Grey Whale Sexual Behavior Insights
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ElleGrey Whale Sexual Behavior Insights
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ElleUsing the book Biological Exuberance, by Bruce Baghemil, identify one animal (/some sort of
living organism) and develop a creative presentation for class representing observed sexual
behavior for this animal.
– migration patterns: North (food) in summers, in fall –> south to Baja (mating and birthing,
gestation ~12 months), –> North.
– some not migratory (Pacific Coast Feeding Group = Depoe Bay, Oregon)
• sex-segregated groups (pods) for travel/socialization
• male homosexual interactions “occur frequently in the northern summering waters and during
the northward migration…” [mention of penis color/size]
• “female homosexual interactions may also occur”
• “same-sex companionships (pairs and trios) … with no particular purpose other than to be
together… short-term and long-term (recurring)”, “roll over and under each other, rubbing
bellies”
• “homosexual activity is fairly common… outside the breeding season”
• “for two-thirds of the year, male Grey Whales are nonfertile, even though they sometimes
engage in heterosexual copulation during these times… sexual interactions outside the mating
season may involve groups of whales…. a significant portion of heterosexual activity is
nonreproductive… groups of up to 18 whales interacting at the same time”
• “the actual mating act, trios consisting of two males and one female are sometimes involved:
one male is a ‘helper’”
– [Link]
depoe-bay
• whale known as Scarback= “ ‘She’s an old female, at least in her late 40s,” says Newell (most
gray whales live to be 40–60 years old), “and we call her a cougar because she has young males
chasing her!’ ”
• “[a 22-year-old male known as] Eagle Eye is also distinguished by his behavior. “He’s a very
… promiscuous whale,” hedges Newell. Though gray whales can only get pregnant in the depths
of winter, Eagle Eye apparently spent last July through September practicing. “He’ll go and
chase [females] for hours—right on their tail—and rub them with his flippers. Sometimes you
see the Pink Floyd—that’s the male appendage, six feet long, and hot pink.” Newell has since
received reports from California confirming that Eagle Eye’s antics remained the same as he
journeyed southward.”
– [Link]
orange-county-coast/
• (Scarback) “She was seen with two other gray whales, so it was possible she was mating,
Schulman-Janiger (Whale Census & Behavior Project) said.”
“Despite her still apparent wound, she’s been able to reproduce with several calves born through
the years, Kalez (wharf manager) said.”