All articles tagged with #sperm whales
Researchers filming off Dominica captured a rare birth of a sperm whale in which surrounding females—related and unrelated—cooperated to support the laboring mother and calf, a first documented instance of birth assistance in non-primates, with vocal changes suggesting coordinated care.
Scientists documented one of the most detailed wild observations of a sperm whale birth, revealing cooperative female behavior as they protect the newborn calf and help it reach water safety, with observations tied to Project CETI.
Field observers off Dominica in July 2023 captured an 11-whale group from two matrilines coordinating a calf’s birth and postnatal care, with a core quartet lifting and maintaining the newborn at the surface for breathing while the wider group stayed cohesive; the study, aided by machine learning and computer vision to track individuals, provides rare quantitative evidence of allocare and complex sociality in sperm whales and was published in Science Advances.
Researchers captured the first documented on-camera headbutts between sperm whales, observed in the Azores and Balearic Islands, showing that young whales initiate the behavior; the study, published in Marine Mammal Science, seeks to understand its function and invites others with footage to share.
University of St Andrews researchers used drones to document headbutting among sub-adult sperm whales in the Azores and Balearic Islands, overturning the idea that this behavior is limited to large adult males. The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, notes questions about why the behavior occurs and how it affects group dynamics, and highlights drones as a powerful tool for observing near-surface whale actions, echoing historic anecdotes of whales ramming ships.
The article explores 32 of the loudest animals on Earth, ranging from the blue whale, which can emit calls up to 188 decibels, to the tiny African cicada, whose mating call reaches 107 decibels. It highlights the diverse ways these animals use their loud calls for communication, mating, and hunting, and includes fascinating details about each species' unique vocalizations and behaviors.
Tourists in Australia witnessed a rare and intense battle between orcas and sperm whales during a whale watching expedition. The orcas chased and attacked the sperm whales, leading to a dramatic and unexpected encounter. However, further analysis revealed that the sperm whales used a defensive tactic of releasing feces to deter the orcas, ultimately thwarting the attack. The event provided a unique and privileged insight into the behavior of these oceanic giants off the southwestern coast of Australia.
Tourists in Australia witnessed a rare and intense battle between orcas and sperm whales during a whale watching expedition. The orcas chased and attacked the sperm whales, leading to a dramatic and unusual encounter. However, further analysis revealed that the sperm whales used a defensive tactic of releasing feces to deter the orcas, and the orcas likely obtained squid rather than whale meat. The event provided a unique glimpse into the behavior of these "titans of the ocean" and highlighted the wild nature of the marine environment off the southwestern coast of Australia.
Sperm whales off the southern coast of Western Australia were observed using a unique defense tactic against hunting orcas by releasing a large cloud of watery, squid-filled feces, which is known as emergency or defensive defection. This tactic, believed to deter predators, was mistaken for blood at first due to the whales' squid-rich diet. While it may have been partially successful, the orcas were later seen with what appeared to be stolen chunks of giant squid, indicating that the defense mechanism may not have completely thwarted the hunting party.
A group of sperm whales in Western Australia's Bremer Canyon defended themselves against a pod of at least 30 killer whales by forming a defensive rosette and unleashing a 'poonado' of diarrhoea, which successfully deterred the orcas. Marine biologists witnessed the extraordinary defense strategy, noting that the orcas abruptly retreated after being hit by the sperm whales' defensive defecation. This incident sheds light on the complex interactions and defensive tactics of marine creatures in the food chain.
Sperm whales off the coast of Western Australia were observed using a unique defense mechanism against a group of killer whales by releasing a large cloud of reddish-colored poop, known as "defense defecation." This strategy helped the sperm whale pod escape a potentially fatal attack by at least 30 killer whales, as the cloud of diarrhea confused and deterred the attackers. Marine biologists witnessed this rarely seen behavior during a whale-watching excursion in the Bremer Canyon.
Sperm whales in Western Australia used a rarely witnessed defense mechanism by releasing a large plume of poop to drive away a pod of orcas that were about to attack them. This strategy, known as "defense defecation," involved the whales forming a circle and fanning their tails to propel their excrement towards the orcas. The event, witnessed by scientists and tourists, helped the sperm whale pod escape the potential fatal attack, showcasing the whales' clever defense tactics in the face of adversity.
Sperm whales in Western Australia used a unique defense strategy by releasing a large cloud of reddish-colored poop to fend off an impending attack by a group of orcas. This rarely seen defense mechanism, known as "defense defecation," involved the whales forming a circle and fanning their tails to drive their excrement towards the orcas. The strategy worked, and the orcas swam off in search of fresher waters, showcasing the clever tactics employed by sperm whales in the face of potential threats.
Sperm whales near the Australian coast successfully repelled a pod of orcas by releasing a "cloud of diarrhea," a defensive tactic witnessed by marine biologist Jennah Tucker. Initially mistaking the excretion for blood, Tucker and her team later realized the unusual defense mechanism had deterred the orcas, potentially saving the whales' lives. The incident is rare, as sperm whales are considered apex predators and typically immune to orca attacks.
A group of sperm whales off the coast of Western Australia defended themselves from a pod of orcas by using a rare defense mechanism - they expelled a giant cloud of reddish-colored diarrhea, a tactic known as defensive defecation. The orcas, known for their diverse diet and cooperative hunting, were initially pursuing the exhausted sperm whales, but were deterred by the unusual defense tactic and the whales' close clustering in a rosette formation. This behavior, rarely observed, surprised marine biologists and onlookers, as sperm whales are typically considered apex predators and are rarely targeted by orcas.