Rare sighting of a Whale tail sailing. It refers to the action of whales lifting their tails clear of the water for long periods of time. The process is rarely observed by humans, and the precise motivation for this phenomenon is unknown.
Whale scientists also have seen humans hang their lower body ends into the water in rare occasions. They're just as confused about the motivation. Some assume they simply enjoy it...
According to ScienceAlert, one theory is that mother whales sleep like this so that they can keep their head in the water (most humpbacks sleep vertically, but with their heads facing upward). Another theory is that the strange position can help the animal to stay cool
I saw this when I swam with the whales in Tonga. The mothers would rest and their calves would play, like what looks to be happening here. It was awesome when you came across it because it meant you didn't have to keep pace with them swimming lol. And the calves would sometimes mimic you and you could "dance" with them in the water. Incredible.
We flew out to Auckland for a few days, then stayed at the Matafonua Lodge for about 10 days. That place was amazing, we had a nice little shack right on the beach. And then we spent a couple of nights in 'Eua, where we stayed with Kiko's Swim with Whales Tours. Before finally stopping in Fiji for a weekend before heading home. It was about 3 weeks in total. Here's a video I shot of our trip. I'll reply with an image gallery this weekend.
Most of our time was spent at the Matafonua Lodge. That place was amazing, we had a nice little shack right on the beach. And then we spent a couple of nights in 'Eua, where we stayed with Kiko's Swim with Whales Tours, he was friendly, but his house and boat were rough. We also popped over to Auckland and Fiji to bookend the trip. It was about 3 weeks in total. Here's a video I shot of our trip. I'll try making a gallery with more info this weekend.
There are plenty of papers on articles on this. Tail sailing is not necessarily tied to sleep and is not common behavior. Sperm whales on the other hand always sleep vertically.
We have no evidence to suggest that humpbacks are sleeping when tail sailing. Sperm whales sleep vertically, humpbacks sleep horizontally. This humpback isn't asleep.
It's really cool seeing the pods of sperm whales sleeping like some kind of submerged sky scrapers just under the surface, an absolutely incredible sight. They only actually sleep about 15 minutes at a time and they slowly float the surface while they do so when they wake they're a quick tail swish away from taking a breath. Sperm whales also only spend about 7% of the day sleeping, which is shockingly low for a mammal.
I sold a phone at a HS recently as they were getting out of class. Saw one girl in tight booty shorts with literal cheek poking out. Low rise cant be any worse at this point.
It's quite nice, being older, where we can wear what we want. My fashion trend back then was "k-mart special" and I am so, SO glad that I don't have to deal with asshole kids anymore.
Wear yes. But there's times when you literally cannot buy what you want to wear. A couple of years back, men's jeans came in "skinny", "slim", and "extra slim" here in Germany. None of which fit anyone that did leg day even once in their life (or just occasionally rides a bike).
Absolutely, ibuprofen is rough in the digestive tract but Tylenol can be rough on the liver. It's just something you have to talk with your DR about, which you obviously have done.
play the field. little of this, little of that, maybe an Aleve ONCE, and then no more for a real long time. hit up a low-dose aspirin, or maybe even start taking some one a days (chewables, or even better, gummies. don't want to choke on pressed bricks of 10000mg of the alphabet, you old s.o.b.'s)
slipmagt
Downward dogfish.
nachosyndicate
Dude, he napping.
IncrediRis
farting
Raecracy123abc
Anthropologist: "Ritual"
robingal1
I think it's like when you stick your foot outta the bed covers. But for the sea...bed!
Zahnradfee
It's to moor your boat on. ..... Also, I am confused that this is not @SeeThroughCanoe.
jaggcomputing5
It feels good. Like wobbling your hand in the air stream of an open car window.
MichelleEdwin
Can the whale just free-ball it topside for a bit without the human asking questions?
ReelPoop
@SeeThroughCanoe
zerbert
It's like sticking one leg out from under the blanket for a while.
Drix1942
Antenna out of the water for the latest software update from their mother world. :)
NiftyGoblin
@OP you ever hold your arm straight up while laying down just cus it feels right?
SharkDoctor
there's always that one spot where it sits perfectly and doesn't get tired or anything!!
Heelcat70
Maybe it has solar cells on its tail and is recharging its cell phone.
SoniqueTui
What if it was just for vitamin D? It might also feel nice too.
ablamboo2
For someone who doesn't know what to say he sure yaks a lot
Gwhenning
Maybe it had to fart.
TheExpensiveBikeRide
He’s just tanning his perineum
ROGUEdenied
too funny
crypresthesia
No one can convince me that this isn't the whale equivalent of sticking one leg out from under the blanket to cool off.
SnowballEffect
Might just have some gnarly gas and doesnt want the bubbles to give it away in front of their other.
017renegade
Whale scientists also have seen humans hang their lower body ends into the water in rare occasions. They're just as confused about the motivation. Some assume they simply enjoy it...
ProfessorDumbass
Some want vitamin D to destress after birthing a kid the size of a bus
itsallaboutthecones
Tomcat1982
"Warm sun feelz gud" - Whale probably
wadatahmydamie
Lemme know when you find the one that says “Bite Me”
Hashbrown123
It is the equivalent of when we stick our hands out a car window and do the wave motion.
BlueRonfar
jtre287127001
It's just mooning you on the wet freeway like a cheeky chap
theduckening
I always thought they enjoyed a little warmth from the sun. Like putting some warmth on our feets.
ErudiousRex
No... it wants the human to get closer.... closer.... hold... HOLLLD.... NOW! *yeeeeeeet*
tizme
My thoughts exactly, too.
Raecracy123abc
Or cool on our feet when we sleep
KaptainObveeus
That makes perfect sense! They are really smart too, I wonder if it is showing off for the human as well
BishlamekGurpgork
If they felt that way about it, it probably wouldn't be a rare sighting.
LollipopFromHell
According to ScienceAlert, one theory is that mother whales sleep like this so that they can keep their head in the water (most humpbacks sleep vertically, but with their heads facing upward). Another theory is that the strange position can help the animal to stay cool
glatts
I saw this when I swam with the whales in Tonga. The mothers would rest and their calves would play, like what looks to be happening here. It was awesome when you came across it because it meant you didn't have to keep pace with them swimming lol. And the calves would sometimes mimic you and you could "dance" with them in the water. Incredible.
theplantladyisabenevolentruler
Did you live there or were you visiting?
glatts
We flew out to Auckland for a few days, then stayed at the Matafonua Lodge for about 10 days. That place was amazing, we had a nice little shack right on the beach. And then we spent a couple of nights in 'Eua, where we stayed with Kiko's Swim with Whales Tours. Before finally stopping in Fiji for a weekend before heading home. It was about 3 weeks in total. Here's a video I shot of our trip. I'll reply with an image gallery this weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNtx5CfMjds
ILoveSpicyPeople
I’d love to hear more stories!!
glatts
Most of our time was spent at the Matafonua Lodge. That place was amazing, we had a nice little shack right on the beach. And then we spent a couple of nights in 'Eua, where we stayed with Kiko's Swim with Whales Tours, he was friendly, but his house and boat were rough. We also popped over to Auckland and Fiji to bookend the trip. It was about 3 weeks in total. Here's a video I shot of our trip. I'll try making a gallery with more info this weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNtx5CfMjds
MrNohbdy
Well, obviously, it feels cool.
pjm82
I bet they spend a lot of time, money, and effort to find out you're actually right
jaijaikali
Hmm I wonder if its temperature regulating somehow? Like how fennec foxes and elephants have big fuggin goofy ears that let the blood cool down.
mocosoft
Look like they’re doing what I do when I stick a foot out of the blanket.
hushpuppyextraordinaire
Except for it’s probably warmer in the air, So maybe the whale is a little cold and wants to warm up its foot so to speak
MrNohbdy
Or hand out of the car window
017renegade
Or feet into the ocean.
Escapist83
It's just soaking its feet.
kawkamawaq
Sunning
tomekEl
Reverse soaking 😂
OperationRustysBlanket
Mind blown
justfiguredoutimc4azyanddumbb
Or lifting a leg to piss
SmilinSloth
Or doing a head stand to let the blood rush to the head then flip over. Feels so weird, swear it's not bad but should probably be avoided
ninjafartball
Or is it sleeping?
onursixx
YouEatYellowSnow
Whales sleep vertical.
heyimjephph
It's really just sperm whales that do that
YouEatYellowSnow
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/humpback-whale-sleep-video_n_5970296
heyimjephph
https://www.iflscience.com/watch-a-humpback-whale-tail-sailing-in-incredible-video-70237
There are plenty of papers on articles on this. Tail sailing is not necessarily tied to sleep and is not common behavior. Sperm whales on the other hand always sleep vertically.
YouEatYellowSnow
This is a Humpback. Sperm whales sleep with their head facing up. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3723012/Tourists-spot-humpback-whale-sleeping-tail-bobbing-water.html
Strugglecityliveshere
I did not know any of this. Thank you for the fun facts and learning :)
heyimjephph
Yeah... I know...
heyimjephph
We have no evidence to suggest that humpbacks are sleeping when tail sailing. Sperm whales sleep vertically, humpbacks sleep horizontally. This humpback isn't asleep.
Strugglecityliveshere
I did not know any of this. Thank you for the fun facts and learning :)
heyimjephph
It's really cool seeing the pods of sperm whales sleeping like some kind of submerged sky scrapers just under the surface, an absolutely incredible sight. They only actually sleep about 15 minutes at a time and they slowly float the surface while they do so when they wake they're a quick tail swish away from taking a breath. Sperm whales also only spend about 7% of the day sleeping, which is shockingly low for a mammal.
Gutpilegutezeit
ValamirCleaver
A plumber attempting to quench one's thirst?...
aiurblade31415
There's probably a subreddit for whaletails.
itsallaboutthecones
CloakedFigure
itsallaboutthecones
Botticelliii
*sadguybuttcrackmeme*
CrisprCAS
Whale tail sightings were common when I was in high school.
upsidedownyhead
Oh that was the good stuff
SpaceSpeed
Indeed
Myotragus
NotTinyPancakes
leats its not a rats tail
FreeDadHugs
Sisqo has entered the chat
cocainerabbit
whatsup whatsup you wear the thong underpants? i think that's a quot from a movie
DicksmackMcgee
Sayagain
I told her what time it was.
ForeignContaminant0
Ah that’s reminds me of manny from degrassi
kickmyballsrealhard
Hell yeah they were. Low cut jeans were amazing
wandergirl
Millennial lady here- my gen z students say low-cut jeans are coming back. I say you can pry my high-waisted jeans from my cold dead hands!
MeatPopsicleMultiPass
I sold a phone at a HS recently as they were getting out of class. Saw one girl in tight booty shorts with literal cheek poking out. Low rise cant be any worse at this point.
bb84president
Hahaha suckers! I too did my time in the trenches pulling my pants up every time I moved.
relsky
It's quite nice, being older, where we can wear what we want. My fashion trend back then was "k-mart special" and I am so, SO glad that I don't have to deal with asshole kids anymore.
mrlemonofbanana
Wear yes. But there's times when you literally cannot buy what you want to wear. A couple of years back, men's jeans came in "skinny", "slim", and "extra slim" here in Germany. None of which fit anyone that did leg day even once in their life (or just occasionally rides a bike).
KrondorMocker
Boots with the furrr?
lurkilydurkiler
Only with Apple bottom jeans day.
thedarkcanuck
There was a guy in HS who always had white fuzzy boots, skinny jeans, band t, emo hair, and Hello Kitty backpack. I miss that guy.
kickmyballsrealhard
I basically was that guy
thedarkcanuck
Rawr XD
itsallaboutthecones
Hello fellow millennial, have you taken your ibuprofen today?
SteveTheEgg
I did, thank you very much.
SpicyTrashManda
Thanks. This also reminded me that I lost the game.
itsallaboutthecones
Theraininspaindrainsmainlydownthemainvein
Why would i need tOW FUCK MY BACK!
KrondorMocker
Abaddon46
I feel so attacked…and yes.
itsallaboutthecones
TrippyTurtle69
Doc told me Tylenol is better less risk of ulcers apparently.
itsallaboutthecones
Absolutely, ibuprofen is rough in the digestive tract but Tylenol can be rough on the liver. It's just something you have to talk with your DR about, which you obviously have done.
NarratesTheDarkerStory
play the field. little of this, little of that, maybe an Aleve ONCE, and then no more for a real long time. hit up a low-dose aspirin, or maybe even start taking some one a days (chewables, or even better, gummies. don't want to choke on pressed bricks of 10000mg of the alphabet, you old s.o.b.'s)
Detacheddavid
You probably mean Ritalin?
itsallaboutthecones
Are you implying we all have ADHD? Because I certainly do but I am on Adderall, thank you very much for the reminder.
Detacheddavid
Or Zoloft or Prozac.
itsallaboutthecones
Ah, I have not yet needed that particular group of store bought neurotransmitters.