There are multiple speculative theories in scientific literature, but no consensus. They cluster into distinct groups, resulting in symmetrical rows across the whale's head and jaw. It may seem strange to you, but baleen whales are actually covered in hair. You can help! No other species has tubercles, and there is no explanation whatsoever as to what they are all about. RELATED: Orca ‘punts’ seal 40 feet high in rare event captured in photos. Unsolved mystery: What are those weird bumps on the heads of humpback whales? These tubercles may be a contributing factor for their agility. Not a thick layer of fur like your family cat, but a smattering of around 100 fragile hairs dotted along their jawline. That’s especially true of our planet’s countless wild species: big and small, threatened and persecuted, complex and fascinating. Within each of these bumps, called tubercles, there is a hair follicle. The humpback whale lives in oceans and seas around the world. This is something that none of us had ever seen before.”. He is currently a Research Associate with the Dolphin Communication Project. After she had finished playing with the invertebrate, Abyss swam over for a closer look at the whale watchers. Of these species, the hair follicles are probably most visible in the humpback whale, which has golf ball-sized bumps on its head, called tubercles, which house the hairs. The bumps on the rostrum, or head, and the pectoral fins of a humpback whale are, in fact, hair follicles. With a team dedicated to our response to this pandemic, we are meeting regularly to ensure the continuation of programs and services that allow our mission work to continue. Donate to our $5-Fundraiser and Sign Up for the Latest Updates & Specials, Humpback whales inspire new wind turbine technology, Sign Up for the Latest Updates & Specials. A Massachusetts whale-watching charter on Wednesday enjoyed a close encounter with a humpback whale as it seemingly enjoyed its own encounter with an enormous, toxic sea jelly. Marine mammals, like terrestrial or land mammals, must have a certain set of characteristics to be called mammals – these include giving birth to live young and having hairs on their bodies. In most species, you can barely see these hairs with the naked eye. VIEW more from this CONTRIBUTOR. “It was fascinating watching this whale curiously lift the jellyfish on its head and flippers, but the curiosity didn’t end there,” the company stated. The tentacles, used to stun and capture plankton, small fish and smaller jellies, are toxic to humans. Humpback whales have sensory hairs on their heads that act as ‘mechanoreceptors’ – like a cat’s whiskers.
Lion’s mane sea jellies live in cold water and can boast a bell measuring nearly 8 feet in diameter, and tentacles that span 100-plus feet. Although whales may be observed with hair not all species are born with hair and those that do have hair generally lose it quickly. This is partly because of the difficulty in obtaining samples of whale facial hair – a knock-on effect of the welcome global moratorium on whaling (but one that's also unfortunate for whale-hair anatomists).
Measuring up to 16m in length and weighing 25-30 tonnes, these large mammals eat krill, which they filter out of the water through hair-like bristles in their mouth called baleen. But on the humpback whale, you can’t miss 'em. Humpbacks are assumed to be one of the most acrobatic whales for their size. But most sting victims experience only temporary pain and redness. It is thought that the single hair in each tubercle is used to detect temperature change in the water, the speed of the whale, and may even help to detect the presence of prey in the whale’s “blind spots.” Along with the idea that these tubercles serve a sensory purpose, comes an idea that tubercles assist with the hydrodynamics of the animal. Take your passion further by supporting and driving more of the nature news you know and love. Some think that tubercles serve as a sensory organ for the whale. The reality is that whale hair – and humpback tubercles in particular – has received very little attention by scientists. The bumps on humpback whales’ heads are hair follicles and some adult humpbacks still have hairs growing from them. In a world bursting with news, nature is our niche – and we love it that way. The reality is that whale hair – and humpback tubercles in particular – has received very little attention by scientists. It's one of the best-kept secrets in the scientific world.
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