Tourists' Social Media Posts Help Scientists Study Rare Humpback Whale Gaping Behavior

In an effort to investigate an unusual behavior in humpback whales—gaping with their mouths wide open for no clear reason—researchers have utilized social media platforms. A study featured in the May 2026 edition of Animal Behavior and Cognition examined 66 occurrences of this 'gaping' behavior, documented through photos and videos shared on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X, and Bluesky from 2014 to 2025. Contributions from tourists and citizen scientists came from diverse locations, including Australia, Hawaii, the Dominican Republic, French Polynesia, and South Africa. Observations included calves, juveniles, and adults, predominantly occurring near other humpbacks, hinting at a social function. Vanessa Pirotta, the lead author and whale researcher at Macquarie University, speculated that gaping might be a form of communication, while other theories suggest jaw stretching, cleaning baleen, or playful interactions. Marine ecologist Olaf Meynecke from Griffith University, not involved in the study, pointed out that humpbacks usually open their mouths to feed, especially using bubble-netting, a socially learned technique. The gaping behavior, however, is noted to happen without food and requires significant energy, raising questions about its purpose.