The Atlantic

Are Bubbles a Whale's Way of Giving the Finger?

Humpbacks might use bubbles for communication, protection, and even sexual pleasure.
Source: Jodi Frediani

Humpback whales are mysterious and graceful creatures. They’re most famous for their unusual yet beautiful dance-like breaching, where they launch themselves out of the sea and into the air. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why humpbacks breach, but they think it could be for hygiene, communication, and play. Another oddly beautiful behavior that humpbacks are well known for is even less understood: blowing bubbles.

It’s been established that humpbacks release large quantities of bubbles in rings out of their blowholes

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