Male North Pacific humpback whale streams a trail of bubbles. The primary male escort whale (center) creates a curtain of bubbles underwater as it swims behind a female (right), with other challenging males trailing behind in a competitive group. The bubbles may be a form of intimidation from the primary escort towards the challenging escorts. Maui, Hawaii, USA
Stock Photo: 05967 Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae Location: Maui, Hawaii, USA Format: Digital 9:16 Other Names: humpbacked whale, hump back whale Copyright © Phillip Colla / HWRF, all rights reserved worldwide. Purchase a print of this image Request a review copy of this image
NOTE: This photograph was taken during Hawaii Whale Research Foundation research activities conducted under NOAA/NMFS and State of Hawaii permit. Its use is subject to certain restrictions. Please contact the photographer for more information. Keywords: action, active group, animal, balaenopteridae, behavior, bubble display, bubble streaming, bubbles, cetacea, cetacean, competitive rowdy group, courtship, endangered, endangered threatened species, exhalation, hawaii, hawaiian islands, hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine sanctuary, heat run, hump back whale, humpback, humpback whale, humpback whale bubble display, humpbacked whale, mammal, marine, marine mammal, maui, megaptera, megaptera novaeangliae, mysticete, mysticeti, national marine sanctuaries, nature, north pacific humpback whale, novaeangliae, ocean, oceans, pacific, research, rorqual, rowdy group, sea, social, underwater, underwater bubbles, usa, whale, whale behavior, whale bubble display, wildlife |