How do humpback whales use bubbles to hunt?
Humpback whales hunt by blowing bubbles to create "nets" that trap schools of fish.
This technique, called bubble-net feeding, involves whales swimming in a shrinking circle while blowing air from their blowholes. The rising bubbles form a wall that panics the fish and herds them into a tight ball. Once the prey is trapped, the whales lunge upward through the center with their mouths wide open to swallow thousands of fish at once. This complex behavior requires precise teamwork and communication.
Nerd Mode
Bubble-net feeding is a highly specialized foraging behavior primarily observed in Megaptera novaeangliae, the humpback whale. Research published in 'Royal Society Open Science' reveals that these whales use their pectoral fins and blowholes to create complex, spiraling bubble structures. One whale typically acts as the leader, while others blow bubbles or produce loud vocalizations to disorient the prey.The bubbles create a visual and acoustic barrier that schools of herring or krill are afraid to cross. As the circle of bubbles shrinks, the prey is forced into a dense 'bait ball' near the surface. This cooperative hunting strategy is not innate but is a learned behavior passed down through generations. Studies by the University of Hawaii at Manoa have used specialized sensors and cameras to track these movements in 3D.The efficiency of this method is staggering, allowing a group of whales to consume up to 2,500 kilograms of fish per day. Interestingly, this behavior is most common in the nutrient-rich waters of Southeast Alaska and the North Pacific. Scientists have noted that the whales even use specific 'feeding calls' to synchronize their lunges. This level of social coordination is rare among solitary marine mammals and demonstrates advanced cognitive abilities.
Verified Fact
FP-0001624 · Feb 15, 2026