How a 50-Foot-Long Humpback Whale Sneaks Up on Prey

The schools of fish they hunt don't realize the whales are a threat until it's too late.

By Leslie Nemo
Dec 26, 2019 6:00 PMDec 26, 2019 6:49 PM
Humpback Swimming
Humpback whales, despite their impressive size, have learned how to sneak up on schools of fish. (Credit: Ethan Daniels/Shutterstock)

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It’s hard to imagine a humpback whale being stealthy. The 50-foot mammals hunt fish by cruising through entire schools with their mouths wide open. It's hardly a subtle hunting strategy, but it works well — the fish often don't have time to scatter.

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