Two photographers off the coast of Hawaii have observed Humpback whales have sex, marking the first time these cetaceans were observed during copulation. However, there is a small surprise as both the whales were male.
A report by the UK-based The Guardian who first reported the news said in their report that sightings of male humpback whale penises have been a rare event. The sightings were confirmed by scientists in a newly published study and were first reported in January 2022.
Two whales approached and circled a boat and then began engaging in sexual activity 3-5 metres below the boat. The photos were taken by Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano who captured not only the first evidence of homosexual behavior in humpback whales but also first sighting of sex in the aquatic species.
The report by the newspaper said that homosexual behavior is common in the animal kingdom and such behaviour was spotted among dolphins and orca whales, but never previously between humpback whales.
“This discovery challenges our preconceived notions about humpback whale behaviour. While we have long recognized the complex social structures of these incredible creatures, witnessing the copulation of two male whales for the first time is a unique and remarkable event,” Stephanie Stack, a whale researcher at the Pacific Whale Foundation and lead author of the new paper, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
The photographers captured one of the whales holding the other in place with its pectoral fins while penetrating it. The whale underneath appeared to be sick and was emaciated and covered in whale lice. Whale lice is found on cetaceans.
Male humpback whale penises are usually concealed in what is known as a “genital slit” to help its body remain more streamlined while swimming. An unsheathed penis has only been witnessed only a few times previously.
The paper published in the Marine Mammal Science journal said that humpback whales could use the genital slit or anus for same-sex copulation. They also use it to practise reproductive behaviours or form social alliances or assert dominance over another.
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