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  • This is a rear view of a male humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) engaged in a dominance display by blowing a stream of air bubbles. Visible in the top left background is a female humpback whale. This female was associated with the male blowing bubbles. The pair were approached by several other males, which precipitated the bubble blowing seen here. A portion of one of the other whales is visible in the bottom right corner. Displays like this are a common behavior among male humpback whales accompanying females during the breeding season.
    humpback-whale-male-bubbles-dominanc...tif
  • This is a view of the blowholes of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) from the rear.. There are several wounds visible, the most prominent of which is on the nostril ridge of the whale’s left side, with several other injured areas visible on the dorsal surface of the right side. These circular areas of exposed flesh are the scars left by cookiecutter sharks (Isistius brasiliensis), which swim up from deep water at night to take bites from larger animals.
    humpback-whale-cookiecutter-shark-bi...tif
  • This male humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae) was attacked and injured when it was very young. From this angle, the half-torn pectoral fin on the calf’s right side is visible. The most severe injuries were on the calf’s dorsal surface. My best guess is that the calf was attacked by false killer whales. This photo was taken approximately two and a half weeks after the attack. Despite significant injury, the calf had grown considerably. It was healthy and active.
    injured-humpback-whale-calf-with-mot...tif
  • This is a female humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) nudging her mother’s mammary gland area to ask for milk. When this image is viewed at 100% magnification, the tongue of the calf can be seen. Just visible in the lower right corner is part of a resting escort whale in the background.
    humpback-whale-calf-nursing-tonga-20...tif
  • This is a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) brindle calf surfacing to breathe, facing away from the camera. Infesting the area around the calf’s blowholes are whale lice, likely Cyamus ovalis. About 4% of southern right whale calves are born with white and black pigmentation, as shown here. These calves are always male. As they mature, such calves darken but never turn completely dark like other southern rights. About 6% of southern right whales have a partial brindle pattern. All such whales are female. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-brindle-calf-eu...tif
  • A very young southern right whale calf breaching. Note that the calf’s callosities are just forming. There are no noticeable whale lice, barnacles, or other parasites attached to the calf or the calf’s callosities. This demonstrates that the community of parasites that are found on southern right whales colonize each animal as it matures. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    young-southern-right-whale-calf-brea...tif
  • Cyamus ovalis, one of three whale lice species known to associate with right whales. on my hand for scale. Whale lice are amphipods. This specimen is from a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) in South Africa. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    whale-lice-cyamus-ovalis-southern-ri...tif
  • Reaching over to take samples of whale lice (Cyamus ovalis) from one of the callosities on a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) that was stopped next to the boat. Visible on the lower jaw of the whale are hairs, outward signs demonstrating that the whale is a mammal. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    obtaining-whale-lice-samples-from-so...tif
  • About 4% of southern right whale calves are born with white and black pigmentation. These are referred to as brindle calves, and are always male. As they mature, these calves darken, but never turn completely dark. The contrast in pigmentation and the characteristic dark patterns on their bodies make these individuals easy to identify. About 6% of the southern right population have a partial brindle pattern. All of the partial brindle animals are female. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    brindle-calf-southern-right-whale-eu...tif
  • Top-down view of the head of a southern right whale calf (Eubalaena australis), showing the development of the whale’s callosities. Note that colonization of the main callosity by whale lice (Cyamis ovalis) is at an early stage. There also do not appear to be any barnacles ensconced in the callosity at this point. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-calf-callosity-...tif
  • Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) swimming just under the ocean surface. The whale’s callosities are clearly visible, arranged in a characteristic pattern on the whale’s head, with each individual’s pattern being unique. Callosity patterns can be used to identify individual whales. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-at-surface-2015...tif
  • A southern right whale calf (Eubalaena australis), resting its head on top of its mother while looking at me. The callosities that are characteristic of this species are beginning to show on the calf’s head. Note also that the calf already carries a full complement of whale lice, what appear to be mostly or entirely Cyamus ovalis. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-calf-with-mothe...tif
  • Inquisitive southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) approaching to observe me. Note the callosity above the whale’s eye, which is populated by other organisms, including whale lice (Cyamus ovalis) and barnacles of indeterminate species. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-close-up-201507...tif
  • Southern right whale female with calf (Eubalaena australis) in shallow coastal water
    southern-right-whale-female-calf-eub...tif
  • A young southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) breaching. Note the development of the callosities. When the whale has matured and the callosities fully developed (complete with communities of commensal organisms), the pattern and layout of these callosities will facilitate photo identification. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    young-southern-right-whale-breaching...tif
  • Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) playing at the ocean surface in murky green water. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-eubalaena-austr...tif
  • Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) with pectoral fin raised above the ocean surface. This was a group of several whales, perhaps engaged in courtship/ mating activity. The whale with its pectoral fin in the air was the focal animal, which suggests there was a high probability it was female. Visible in the background are fields of canola, a major crop in South Africa. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-pectoral-fin-ra...tif
  • Close-up view underwater of the distinct form of a southern right whale’s pectoral fin. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-pectoral-fin-un...tif
  • Southern right whale (Eubalena australis) with mouth open at the ocean surface, baleen clearly visible. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-baleen-mouth-op...tif
  • Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) lifting a pectoral fin out of the water near shore. Note the outline of the bones in the pectoral fin, which are analogous to the bones in human hands. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-near-shore-pect...tif
  • Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) creating a rainbow while breathing. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-rainbow-south-a...tif
  • Young southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) breaching. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-breaching-eubal...tif
  • Fluke of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) marked by injuries that appear to be the result of a propellor strike from a boat traveling at high speed. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-fluke-propellor...tif
  • Detailed view of one of the callosities on the head of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis). These rough bumps are populated by a number of organisms, the most prevalent of which are whale lice, seen here in great numbers. The species pictured here seems to be Cyamus ovalis. There are also barnacles and other organisms that I am unable to identify. The purpose of these callosities in unknown, as is the relationship between the whale and the organisms that make a home on and in these growths. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-callosity-commu...tif
  • Whale louse (Cyamus ovalis) taken from a Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), with a ruler for scale.
    cyamus-ovalis-whale-louse-southern-r...tif
  • A pair of adult southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in murky, relatively shallow water along the coast of South Africa. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-pair-eubalaena-...tif
  • Cyamus ovalis, one of three whale lice species known to associate with right whales. Whale lice are amphipods. This specimen is from a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) in South Africa. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    cyamus-ovalis-whale-louse-right-whal...tif
  • Three adult southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) engaged in social activity, viewed from the air. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    socializing-southern-right-whales-ae...tif
  • Two adult southern hemisphere humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) tail slapping together. This pair was traveling north together in the winter. The one on the left is female; the one on the right male.
    southern-humpback-whale-megaptera-no...tif
  • Whale meat for sale in a supermarket. The label on the top right with the blue whale tail indicates that this meat is from the southern hemisphere research whaling. As such, it is probably minke whale. This is meant for raw consumption as sashimi.
    minke-whale-sashimi-supermarket-japa...tif
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Tony Wu Underwater Photography

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