An Observation of Sexual Behavior Between Two Male Humpback Whales
c0lo writes:
humpback-whales-sex-photographed-homosexual-behavior - The Guardian
Humpback whales have been observed having sex for the first time, with this landmark moment having an interesting twist - the two whales were male.
Despite decades of research on humpback whales, sightings of the male's penis have been rare. Copulation by the species had not been documented by people - until now, when two photographers captured images of a sexual encounter between two whales off the coast of Hawaii.
The sighting, confirmed by scientists in a newly published study, occurred in January 2022 in waters west of the island of Maui, where two whales approached and circled a boat before engaging in sexual activity about three to five meters below the vessel.
Both of the whales were male, which makes the photos, taken by Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano, the first evidence of homosexual behavior in humpback whales as well as the first sighting of sex in the species. Homosexual behavior is common in the animal kingdom and has been spotted among dolphins and orca whales, but never previously between humpback whales.
Source: An observation of sexual behavior between two male humpback whales
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13119
Thanks also to c0lo for his suggested title, but we decided not to use it: "First evah humpback pornshot taken - and its gay"
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