Cetacean surfacing behaviour

Cetacean surfacing behaviour is how whales, dolphins, and porpoises move at the water's surface, besides just breathing. These animals have many ways to show off, find food, and talk to each other. All cetaceans, like whales, dolphins, and porpoises, do these behaviours.

Cetaceans are split into two groups: those with teeth and those with special plates called baleen. But scientists often look at them as larger whales (more than 10 meters long) and smaller dolphins and porpoises (all under 10 meters long, like the orca). Some behaviours, like spyhopping and lobtailing, happen in both groups. Others, like bow riding, are only seen in one group.

Because these behaviours are energetic and easy to see, scientists study them a lot. This has also created a popular tourism industry where people can watch these amazing animals.

Travelling surface behaviour

Cetaceans, such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises, have many interesting ways of moving at the water's surface. One common behaviour is breaching or lunging, where they jump out of the water. This can be a big leap where much of their body leaves the water, or a smaller jump where just part of their body comes up. Breaching might be a way for whales to show they are strong, to talk to each other, or to play. Scientists are still learning why whales breach.

Another surface behaviour is porpoising, where small whales and dolphins jump out of the water while moving quickly. This helps them save energy when swimming fast, especially when they need to escape from danger or catch food. Porpoising might also help them remove parasites from their skin or see far away objects better.

Some cetaceans also enjoy wave-riding or bow-riding near boats. They jump and play in the waves made by boats, which helps them save energy while swimming. This behaviour is common in smaller whales and dolphins and can be a way for them to have fun or teach younger ones how to stay safe around boats.

Stationary surface behaviour

See also: Bubble net feeding

When whales and dolphins come up for air, they sometimes stay in one spot and look around. One way they do this is called spyhopping. In spyhopping, a whale rises up out of the water, keeping its head and part of its upper body above the surface. This helps it see things nearby, like boats or other animals. Spyhopping can last for a few minutes if the whale is very curious. Whales often spyhop when they see boats, especially during whale-watching tours. Some whales, like orcas, spyhop to look for animals resting on ice, such as seals.

Another behavior is lobtailing, where a whale lifts its tail flukes out of the water and slaps them down hard. This makes a loud noise that can be heard underwater. Lobtailing might be a way for whales to talk to each other or show they are upset. Some scientists think it can also help whales catch fish by scaring them into a tight group.

A special move for humpback whales is the peduncle throw, where they flip their body and throw their tail and rear part out of the water with a lot of force. This seems to be a way to show excitement.

Whales also sometimes rest at the surface, called logging. When logging, a whale lies still at the surface with its back or part of it showing. This is a way for them to rest while still being able to breathe. Young whales often rest this way with their mothers.

Dive times

Different kinds of whales and dolphins come up to breathe at different times. Some animals can stay underwater for a long time while hunting, sometimes for up to 85 minutes. In special situations, some whales, like the Cuvier's beaked whale, have been seen staying under the water for more than three hours.

Human interaction

Whale watching is a popular activity everywhere. Many people enjoy it. More boats on the water have changed how some whales, dolphins, and porpoises act near the surface.

When boats come close, most of these animals will stay away or try to interact. They usually avoid boats by diving deeper or moving away. For example, sperm whales surface less often when boats are nearby. Some animals, like humpback whales without calves, may stop doing fun jumps and tricks if boats get too close. However, groups with calves or smaller dolphins and orcas often stay and show more playful behaviours when boats are around. This can make the tour more exciting, but it might also encourage tours to get closer than recommended. Scientists are still learning how these changes affect the animals over time.