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Nature's Surprise: Same-Sex Behavior Observed in Humpback Whales
Male Humpback Whales Observed Mating in Hawaii
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Discovery Chepe Id-362-ECO
Published in
08-11-2024
Two adult humpback whales were spotted off Maui, Hawaii. The whale at the top of the image is penetrating the whale at the bottom. Both specimens are males. Credits (Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano)
The mating between two male humpback whales in the waters of Maui, Hawaii was captured by a team of researchers. This unprecedented event has challenged preconceptions about the sexual behavior of these species.
Challenge to Norms: Male Humpback Whales Rewrite Sexual Behavior
The study, published in the journal "Marine Mammal Science," describes how the two males interacted over a 20-minute period, performing sexual behaviors that are normally associated with reproduction between a male and a female.
Several studies throughout time and natural history have demonstrated homosexual behavior in some species, including humans, but this is the first time this behavior has been recorded in this type of whale. Credits (Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano)
This finding opens new questions about the social dynamics and flexibility of sexual behavior in humpback whales. Researchers point out that this type of behavior could be more common than previously thought, but that it has gone unnoticed due to the difficulty of observing whales in their natural habitat.
The study also highlights the importance of further research into the behavior of humpback whales to better understand their complex social and ecological lives.
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