Humpback Whales' Unique Flippers Enable Precision Feeding

Humpback whales' unique flippers enable tight, high-speed bubble-net feeding maneuvers.

Why it matters

  • Unique flippers enable agility and specialized feeding.
  • Insights into evolutionary adaptations.

By the numbers

  • 5 whales tagged; 197 events.
  • Tightest turn: 6.5m.
  • Force: >11,500N.

The big picture

  • Unique morphology enables feeding strategy.
  • Highlights movement efficiency.
  • Shows importance of adaptations.

What they're saying

  • User compared agility to WWII plane.

Caveats

  • Small sample size (5 whales).

What’s next

  • Future research on other species' similar behaviors.