Tourist Videos Help Scientists Decode Humpback Whale 'Gaping' Behavior

A new study led by Macquarie University lecturer Dr. Vanessa Pirotta reveals that humpback whales exhibit a rare behavior called 'gaping'—holding their mouths open without feeding—captured primarily through tourist videos, drone footage, and social media. The paper, published this month, analyzed 66 videos sourced online, documenting instances where whales opened their jaws wide in non-feeding contexts, often near other whales, both above and underwater. The behavior was observed in adults and calves, occurring outside normal feeding routines. Possible explanations include play, socializing, cleaning baleen, jaw issues, or stretching. Pirotta emphasizes the value of citizen scientists and tourism operators with high-quality technology in documenting rare marine behaviors. The study highlights social media as a powerful tool for identifying unusual whale actions, demonstrating that public contributions can provide critical data for researchers.