May 27, 2009 -- For years, fishermen in Alaska wondered why their catches were mysteriously disappearing, and now remarkable new footage shows a sperm whale adroitly "stealing" fish on lines without leaving behind any tell-tale evidence, save for its candid camera appearance. Watch video of the sneaky whale thief here. The video presents the first known footage of a male sperm whale eating in the wild. Since it includes ear-splitting sounds made by the feeding whale, the video is also helping scientists better understand how the marine giants vocalize, allowing researchers to estimate population sizes based on whale chatter. "We definitely did a high-five when we saw the video," project leader Aaron Thode of Scripps Institution of Oceanography told Discovery News. "It was a fist-pumping moment." With the help of black cod longline fisherman Kendall Folkert, Thode and colleague Delphine Mathias deployed video cameras and acoustic recorders like flying kites on Folkert's fishing lines off Sitka, Alaska, at a depth of 328 feet. Longline operations consist of a main fishing line draped across the ocean and fastened with shorter lines bearing baited hooks. Related Content:
Marine mammals often avoid anything that looks foreign in their environment, so the researchers camouflaged their setup with "fake tangled rope" and other disguises. One male sperm whale fell for the camera trap. The video, described in the current Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, shows the sperm whale plucking a short fishing line at one end to jar a black cod at the other end free. "It's comparable to someone shaking apples from an apple tree," said Thode, who added that the whale then "cleverly figured out how to remove its jaw away from the line, avoiding entanglement." During the theft, the whale emitted rapid-fire clicks -- "louder than a firecracker" -- that got faster as it approached the cod. The scientists now believe sperm whales may produce the animal kingdom's loudest and most intense sounds. The footage also permitted the first-ever direct comparison between sperm whale clicking and physical features of the noise producer's head. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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