If you ever have the chance to watch whales or dolphins out at sea, then there is a good chance you will see more than just see a fin or tail poking out of the water.
These incredible ocean animals are capable of showing off a range of behaviours, each of which signifies or communicates something, say the experts from Whale and Dolphin Conservation.
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Do all whales breach?
Dolphins swimming alongside the bow of a boat riding a pressure wave just because it is fun, or a whale lobtailing (slapping his or her tail on the water’s surface) are fascinating spectacles.
But one of the most exciting sights, and the one that most people love to catch on camera if possible, is that of a large whale rising up and out of the water before crashing back down into the ocean. This is known as breaching and requires a lot of whale power.
Many species breach, some will do so multiple times in a row and seem to trigger others in their group to do the same. Humpback, right and sperm whales are particularly fond of leaping out of the water in this way. Humpbacks may do this 100 times or more in one ‘show’, an incredible feat when you are up to 17m long!
The smaller the species the more likely it is that they may launch fully out of the water and even perform some gymnastic style spins before splashing down.
The larger whales tend to rise then turn slightly before bellyflopping back into the sea. Some will only lift their front half up and out and then appear to headbutt the surface of the water.
Why do whales breach?
But, why do whales breach? Frustratingly, the reason (or reasons) for this are not fully understood, and it remains one of the mysteries surrounding these awesome creatures that we are yet to solve.
There are a number of theories to why whales breach. Whales can carry tiny lice in skin lesions and folds, nostrils and eyes and other places where water turbulence is lower and so less likely to dislodge these uninvited guests. They are not able to swim in the open water, and travel from one whale to another by direct contact. It is believed that breaching could be a way that a whale removes them.
Breaching could also be used to create a similar effect to lobtailing - when a whale slaps his or her tail forcefully down on the surface of the water. Lobtailing seems to be a way of generating loud noise causing fish to become scared and confused, resulting in them forming a tighter school and so making it easier for the whale to scoop them up.
Breaching may be method of conveying messages to other members of their group, a warning signal, a courtship ritual, or it could, quite simply, be the sheer pleasure of exuberant play. There is clear scientific evidence that, like us humans, some whales and dolphins are highly intelligent, socialising and living in complex societies. Play behaviours are a clear sign of this intelligence, be it to help to learn key skills, or just because it is fun.
Of course, breaching could be for all of the above reasons, maybe even used by individual species for differing reasons. Or it could be none of the above, and whales and dolphins are having a laugh at our expense!
What is certain is that a breaching whale remains one of the world's most exciting natural spectacles.