Two male humpback whales were caught on camera by two scientists mating with each other, which is considered a novelty in the scientific community.
Upon closer examination, the photographers who took the images, which are reported to date back to January 19, 2022, discovered that they
had actually photographed two male whales having penetrative sex.
A study published in the journal Marine Mammal Science
showed the first confirmed observation of penetration during sexual intercourse among humpback whales.
Even more particular is the fact that
this behavior was observed between two males
, a phenomenon never before reported in the scientific literature on these whales.
The discovery came about thanks to the timely presence of two scientific photographers,
Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano,
who captured the crucial moment while aboard a ship near Maui.
Their photographs were shared with the study leader, Stephanie Stack, a researcher at the Pacific Whale Foundation.
unique find
According to the National Geographic note, the study of humpback whales has advanced significantly in recent decades, thanks to the development of new tracking technologies and the use of drones.
In addition, the participation of enthusiastic tourists and scientists with cameras provided an increasing number of valuable observations.
For the first time they photograph two males mating.
Photo: Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano
Longitudinal studies are especially crucial, as they allow the same individuals to be followed over years.
The Pacific Whale Foundation, for example, has kept a single group of humpback whales in Hawaii since 1980, helping to produce one of the world's most extensive photographic identification catalogs for this species.
In this particular case, the two whales involved in the sexual act were already registered in the catalogue, which made it easier to identify them as adults.
Photo: Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano.
In this particular case, the two individuals involved in the sexual act were already registered in the catalogue, which facilitated their identification as adults and, in the case of Whale A, their confirmation as a male.
The observation of their sexual behavior, which lasted less than two minutes in each session, provides valuable data on the social and reproductive dynamics of these whales,
according to National Geographic.
Non-reproductive sexual behavior is not exclusive to humpback whales and has been observed in several marine and also terrestrial species.
The hypotheses are practice for future sexual encounters, the establishment or maintenance of social bonds, the reduction of tensions or the assertion of dominance.