First mating humpback whale image wins photo prize

Caroline Morley, online picture researcher

(Image: Jason Edwards)

Jason Edwards has won the New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography for the second year running with this image of a pair of mating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).

Edwards took the first underwater photograph of humpbacks mating off the coast of Tonga in 2010. Edwards first watched a pod of male humpbacks compete in a battle of strength and endurance. The male who won this heat then mated with the cow, stroking her flanks with his pectoral fins and holding her to him during copulation.

Edwards described the encounter to Australia's The Daily Telegraph. He said that the embrace was brief - just 30 seconds - and afterwards the female released bubbles through her mouth, rather than though her blowhole.

"The purpose of this bubble release is still unclear. However, it may have signalled to the male that the reproductive act was over," Edwards said.

The annual Eureka Prizes are presented by the Australian Museum to reward excellence in science and science communication in Australia.

Gallery: "New Scientist Eureka Photography Prize 2012"

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/22d1e983/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cshortsharpscience0C20A120C0A80Cwhale0Emating0Eimage0Ewins0Escienc0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

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