Mad as a Marine Biologist

High-res This is the first time Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, mating has ever been documented / Pic: Jason: Edwards.  Australian photographer Jason Edwards, who took the images off Tonga, was stunned by the “brief but tender” copulation. While humpback “heat runs” - in which 15m-long, 40-tonne males fight to win a female’s attention - have been well documented, and often wrongly described as mating, this is the first time the actual act of copulation has been photographed, the National Geographic Channel said. “It was amazing. There were four or five males vying for her attention and while the larger ones were busy jostling each other, the smallest one swam away with the female,” Mr Edwards said yesterday. “Their coupling lasted less than 30 seconds, which might explain why it’s never been captured on film before.” 30 seconds in heaven is better than 20 seconds in heaven. 

This is the first time Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, mating has ever been documented / Pic: Jason: Edwards. 

Australian photographer Jason Edwards, who took the images off Tonga, was stunned by the “brief but tender” copulation.

While humpback “heat runs” - in which 15m-long, 40-tonne males fight to win a female’s attention - have been well documented, and often wrongly described as mating, this is the first time the actual act of copulation has been photographed, the National Geographic Channel said.

“It was amazing. There were four or five males vying for her attention and while the larger ones were busy jostling each other, the smallest one swam away with the female,” Mr Edwards said yesterday.

“Their coupling lasted less than 30 seconds, which might explain why it’s never been captured on film before.”

30 seconds in heaven is better than 20 seconds in heaven. 

Notes

  1. bonedust reblogged this from wastedseductions
  2. jupips reblogged this from mindfulintentions
  3. sparkylurkdragon reblogged this from rhamphotheca
  4. kim-jong-fun reblogged this from rhamphotheca
  5. thejives reblogged this from halfman-halfocean
  6. thewindwaker reblogged this from mad-as-a-marine-biologist
  7. veganveins reblogged this from halfman-halfocean
  8. halfman-halfocean reblogged this from ody-ssea
  9. brazilian-orca reblogged this from ilovethewhales
  10. ilovethewhales reblogged this from illswimthroughyourveins and added:
    ^^^ smart little fella ;)
  11. illswimthroughyourveins reblogged this from ody-ssea
  12. prncessmlyszalove reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  13. iparkedtheimpalaat221b reblogged this from mad-as-a-marine-biologist
  14. rebelion-silenciosa reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  15. thecolorisbeige reblogged this from sea-monkey
  16. lambandserpent reblogged this from rhamphotheca
  17. sea-monkey reblogged this from mad-as-a-marine-biologist
  18. z-z-zannas-ocean reblogged this from mad-as-a-marine-biologist
  19. shipwreck-shark reblogged this from oceanuslove
  20. eduardo- reblogged this from ody-ssea and added:
    Workspirations.
  21. ody-ssea reblogged this from mad-as-a-marine-biologist
  22. tubytoo reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  23. naveloftheworld reblogged this from rhamphotheca
  24. muffinesque reblogged this from rhamphotheca and added:
    hehe. I know I’m weird, but I think this is just so beautiful. We know so much about humpback whale mating calls so it’s...
  25. thug-pugz reblogged this from rhamphotheca
  26. stupidiamaxima reblogged this from moviesorientated
  27. divingdork reblogged this from mad-as-a-marine-biologist