Template:POTD protected/2008-02-11
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A Humpback Whale breaching in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The purpose of breaching is unknown. It may be a form of communication, a method of stunning fish prey, or a way to remove parasites from the skin. In this behaviour, up to 90% of the animal's body clears the surface of the water, and a vertical speed of 29 km/h (18 mph) is reached. Whales have been known to breach 90 times in an hour. Most species of whale and dolphins breach, as do many sharks and rays. Photo credit: Whit Welles Recently featured: Atomic bombing of Nagasaki – Pancratium zeylanicum – John Edwards |
