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Feeding
The ways different Cetaceans obtain their food depends on the type of food they prey upon and its
own behaviour
The Mysticeti (baleen) whales feed singularly or in twos - their food intake is such that plankton
concentrations may rarely be sufficient to support larger numbers of animals.
The Odontoceti (toothed) cetaceans feed upon prey that is distributed in a clumped manner -
locating the schools of prey is a collective group experience. This assumes the animals will
communicate with each other & co-operate. Echolocation play a major role here to provide an acoustic
picture of the surroundings by their reflection off solid surfaces.
Feeding and methods
Many species have bouts of feeding activity followed by periods of rest.
The feeding method depends on the Cetaceans and on the activity of the prey.
Baleen whales capture their food by gulping & skimming.
Humpback whales use ‘bubble netting’.
This is when a group of humpbacks swim in a shrinking circle
blowing bubbles.
Humpbacks also ‘flick-feed’ using its tail.
used when feeding on the surface. Humpback use a flick of a tail
and a bubble cloud to corral fish.