Pirouetting and gaping: mysterious whale behaviour documented as humpback migration begins

With the help of citizen scientists, researchers studying rare humpback ‘jaw-gaping’ believe the move could be a social display

On the coast of Western Australia, a humpback whale is “pirouetting”, sweeping its pectoral fins through the water, its massive jaw hanging wide open. Surrounded by companions, the animal isn’t lunging for a meal: rather, it is putting on a mysterious behavioural display.

This underwater ballet, captured on camera by an onlooker and shared online, is one of the clearest examples of a rarely documented phenomenon known as “gaping”.