In the battle of killer whale vs. shark, one of these two apex predators has a decided advantage, and this holds true even if you narrow it to the fiercest of shark the species, the great white. Although both killer whales and great whites are equipped with a full set of tools for successfully hunting prey and for defending themselves against other predators that might want to make a meal of them, there are a number key differences that set orcas and white sharks apart, starting with body size and hunting strategy. Here’s a complete breakdown—a sort of tale of the tape in the killer whale vs shark showdown.

In almost every documented case of killer whale vs. shark, the killer whale wins. There’s no clearer or more graphic example of this than the first-ever video footage of orcas hunting and killing great whites, captured last year by marine researchers near Mossel Bay, South Africa. Along with the video, scientists released a study reporting that two orcas in the area had hunted and killed at least 8 great white sharks over a span of several years. Researchers who examined the carcasses say the killer whales had ripped out the sharks’ livers and then left the remains to drift up on nearby beaches.

To understand why killer whales have the upper hand over even great whites, it helps to know how each of these predators is equipped to attack, defend, and evade.

Not only do orcas enjoy several physical advantages in the battle of killer whale vs. shark, but they also use more sophisticated hunting strategies, which appears to give them an additional edge.

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