Articles for tag: killer whales, marine mammal behavior, Orcas, , tongue nibbling

Killer whale jumping on water surface

A Kiss Beneath the Waves: Wild Orcas Caught in Rare Tongue-Nibbling Display

April Joy Jovita

In a first-of-its-kind observation, researchers have documented wild orcas gently nibbling each other’s tongues—a behavior previously seen only in captivity. Published in Oceans, the study describes a rare underwater interaction captured by citizen scientists snorkeling in Norway’s Kvænangen fjords, offering new insight into the social lives of these enigmatic marine mammals. A Chance Encounter in ...

An orca jumping off the water surface

Gifts from the Deep: Wild Orcas Offer Prey to Humans in Unprecedented Displays of Social Curiosity

April Joy Jovita

In a groundbreaking behavioral study, wild orcas—apex predators revered for their intelligence—have been observed voluntarily offering prey to humans in multiple parts of the world. Published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology, the research compiles 34 encounters from California to Patagonia, reshaping our understanding of marine mammal social behavior and interspecies interactions. A Study of ...