News Animals

This humpback whale hunting strategy has been out of sight — until now

The whales coordinated their seafloor arrivals and opened their mouths nearly in sync to feed

Two humpback whales swim in the open ocean

Humpback whales can work in groups to feed near the ocean surface as well as the seafloor.

Philip Thurston/E+/Getty Images

By Priyanka Runwal

Humpback whales are known for their ingenious hunting tactics. One of the most sophisticated strategies involves as many as 20 whales working together to create a “net” of bubbles underwater that rise to trap fish and krill near the ocean surface.