"Surrounded by companions, the animal isn't lunging for a meal: rather, it is putting on a mysterious behavioural display. This underwater ballet, captured on camera by an onlooker and shared online, is one of the clearest examples of a rarely documented phenomenon known as gaping. Whale-watchers witness a whale displaying gaping behaviour."
"Scientists believe gaping may be a social display or a way for calves to stretch their mouths before feeding. The researchers have termed the behaviour gaping and believe it could be play, social signalling, interacting with debris, or calves stretching their jaws around mealtimes."
"Just in time for this year's migration, a Macquarie University study has proven the power of citizen science. Social media footage of 66 humpbacks including WA's pirouetting whale reveals their mysterious jaw-gaping behaviour could be a social display. Tourism operators and citizen scientists spend hours observing whales and are a powerful resource for capturing and reporting on behaviour."
"It was so unusual to see this happen, Pirotta says, and when I heard the commentary of people watching it, I knew it was rare. A calf gaping, captured on film."
Humpback whales along Australia’s coasts perform jaw-gaping displays during migration. A whale in Western Australia sweeps its pectoral fins while holding its massive jaw wide open, surrounded by companions and not feeding. Whale-watchers and scientists have limited documentation of this behavior, called gaping. A Macquarie University study used citizen science footage from 66 humpbacks to examine gaping and found evidence it may serve social purposes. Possible functions include play, social signalling, interacting with debris, or calves stretching their mouths before feeding. Tourism operators and citizen scientists provide valuable observations that help capture and report rare whale behaviors during the annual migration from Antarctic waters to warmer breeding grounds.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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