DorcaAlert
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Originally, scientists thought that a humpback's long pectoral flippers were used strictly for steering, but new video footage from a camera shows evidence that humpbacks also use their pectoral flippers to propel themselves through the water by flapping them much like a bird would with its wings.
Maybe not the most exciting discovery in the world, but I'm okay with that.
scroll142
Jesus, duh!
Andalite
I always thought that was a logical conclusion
Gweehe101
Me too -“okay with that.” More please!
maxsoman22
I feel like thats somewhat obvious?
XenoCore
I thought that green thing was going to plug the whale hole and the video was going to show how they removed it. I am not smart.
shinshisueno
Next stop, flyin muthafuckin cars
unclegrampy
Good fettuccini is hard to find
RawDogginChixSince2000Six
TastyBaconStarship
This is actually really cool considering aeronautical and aquatic equipment designs are being based on this shape
justsome
At first I thought scientists had just discovered humpback whales. Which seemed strange, since I'm pretty sure we already knew about them.
SnartHelg
Humpback whales have antimemetic properties. They get rediscovered every few years.
Steffn
Come on, be a good OP and post the source!!
FurciferPardalis
Literally thousands of videos showing humpbacks doing this. How the fuck is this considered a discovery???
DorcaAlert
There aren't, actually. It took them hundreds of hours of footage and this only happened these two times.
mindolluin
So are you saying they can fly?
DontLookAtMyPenis
Pretty sure we've discovered humpbacks awhile back... Pretty sure
EmergencyAbortionSavingsAccount
I'm more interested in the camera placement. Using that giant rod to stick cameras to whales sounds like a hell of a job.
RandyKnapp
Don't worry, I speak whale. HEEEEEEEEEY CAAAAAN IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII PUUUT A CAMARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ON YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU?
AgamemnonsMemes
I'm gonna be honest i always thought thats how it worked....
doctorsnextxompanion
Samesies
Fudui2
Yea, we'll were not Scientists. We just have common sense.
ProfessorDumbass
As a human, I thought that would be sort of normal. But I guess I don't have a tail for propulsion. Using 'arms' should always help propel
CallsEmAsISeesEm
Good to know I'm not the only one who flaps their arms when they run for more speed. Lol
DorcaAlert
For any other cetacean, if I'm not mistaken, this is not the case, but humpback whales have very unique pectoral flippers. :)
ProfessorDumbass
TIL
DorcaAlert
Once I looked at your username, this exchange became hilarious.
Zenzui
I'm amazed it took this long. I've seen them do this before in other videos.
RawDogginChixSince2000Six
fucking right!? I mean I'm no marine biologist, but i felt like i knew this
Zenzui
I swear I've even seen them do it in animation somewhere.
dontmagpie
how could they be used for steering when theyre fucking gigantic and floppy. its not a rudder.
brushybrushy
Whale how 'bout that. Now to discover what T-Rex did with them tiny arms and why kids love cinnamon toast crunch.
Irreal
They used them to carry a purse
TheScarfyDoctor
But wouldn't the cinnamon get everywhere?
theitinerantnaturalist
...Aquaflying whales?! WTF
RawDogginChixSince2000Six
Aqua Teen Hunger Force!?
VoiceOfVerisimilitude
Why are absolutely blatant things like that just discovered now? What the fuck do animal scientists do all day?
theitinerantnaturalist
@themajesticharpyeagle
TheMajesticHarpyEagle
Huh. Well it makes sense at least, given their size.
ARudeComment
Don't you hate it when your fettuccini comes with no goddamn sauce?
DorcaAlert
Well, it is super easy to look up, but here: http://news.stanford.edu/2017/07/10/humpback-whales-flap-foreflippers/ one of many sauces.
ARudeComment
Myfirstgirlfriendturnedintothemoon
That wasn't very rude
ARudeComment
Fuck you Sokka
Myfirstgirlfriendturnedintothemoon
There ya go!
CloudberryMoose
Everything is easy to look up. Sauce is good manners.
PlankTableGo
"Gracie is pregnant"
syntaxxor
As a Submariner sonar tech.... We've known this. Shit is annoying
DorcaAlert
How so?
syntaxxor
Fucking Sperm whales click nonstop. They follow is sometimes... For days
syntaxxor
The tail is a swoosh noise, slow and methodical. Flippers are a kinda flap flap, you get them at the same time.
ICantThinkOfAU
I'm not certain, but I'm guessing it's because the turbulent water created by the whale swinging those fins around messes around 1/2
ICantThinkOfAU
with the sonar. Kinda like how a submarine can create a "Knuckle" In the water, which reflects sonar waves? 2/2
DorcaAlert
I'm curious why specifically the fins rather than the tail. Does the tail not have the same effect?
ICantThinkOfAU
Good point actually. Probably not, the tale is moving in a gradual wave, whereas the fin is more akin to a "Clapping" Motion which would 1/2
ICantThinkOfAU
create a much bigger disruption to the water around it. Like a bird flapping its wings compared to the tail of a Kite (bird) wagging 2/2
DorcaAlert
"New video footage from a camera." Jesus Christ. I swear to God. Where else would you get video?
byohzzrd
I've seen a lot of videos on the internet.
pzummo
Not just a camera. A video camera.
TomWaits4no1
Hahaha ahhhh...
chemistsdoitintesttubes
They could have made it with CGI, but I doubt the scientific community would be thrilled with that.
wabitgirl
Proof of concept?
Warkittens42o
Obligatory "from your mom"
StarTrekWhaleProbe
Strap an iPhone to its head
Hobbes777
Wise man knows he's a fooo
jonestown
Dash Cam.
PascalCasedUserName
"We need at least 500 words"
Wellfuckmesideways
One of them moving picture boxes
Irreal
High definition sonar
Styreta
toofrunktoduck
Blockbuster
fitlex
We still have a large Civic Video in my town, there's always like a dozen people in there
OlElonMusky
As a newer millennial, what is a DVD
Edringtron
RIP
thezookeeper
Obligatory "not in Alaska"!
CheeseIsNaturesFudge
The last one in Australia shut today.
toofrunktoduck
I know we joke that Australia is in the past, but come on... :)
CometLaHal
blockbuster was the shit. even today if they were still around I'd be there once a week
Cuntard
Wow! What a difference!