Male humpback whale with penis extended | Tonga

Male and female humpback whale diving. The male has his penis extended. I observed this pair hanging out for extended periods of time in between dives. The female had a habit of hanging in a head-down position, with the ventral surface of her fluke held parallel to the surface of the water, at or just above the water line, while the male stayed nearby. It is possible that the two whales were engaged in courtship behavior.

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Filename: male-humpback-whale-penis-visible-mating-tonga-201008-0512.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication without prior written permission
Image Size: 5616x3744 / 60.2MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; South Pacific Tonga Vava'u Humpback Whale Animalia Chordata Mammalia Cetartiodactyla Eutheria Cetacea Mysticeti Balaenopteridae Marine Mammal Baleen Whale Rorqual Mysticete Megaptera novaeangliae Endangered: IUCN Red List CITES Appendix 1 Filter Feeder Penis Courtship Mating Pair
Contained in galleries: Humpback Whales Underwater, Marine Life Reproduction

Male and female humpback whale diving. The male has his penis extended. I observed this pair hanging out for extended periods of time in between dives. The female had a habit of hanging in a head-down position, with the ventral surface of her fluke held parallel to the surface of the water, at or just above the water line, while the male stayed nearby. It is possible that the two whales were engaged in courtship behavior.