Whales
See 15 Stunning Images From the Ocean Photographer of the Year Awards
The winning and highly commended underwater photography spotlights breathtaking animal behavior, conservation needs and the otherworldly environment of Earth's oceans
Why Have So Many Whale Remains Been Found on the Ocean Floor Near Los Angeles?
Scientists have discovered more whale falls there than in the rest of the world combined
The World's Rarest Whale May Have Just Washed Ashore in New Zealand
No one has ever recorded a live sighting of the spade-toothed whale, but experts say the dolphin-like creature found earlier this month is "no doubt" a member of the elusive species
Watch Chatty Beluga Families Migrate With These Stunning Live Cams in Canada
Polar Bears International and Explore.org are once again capturing video footage and audio recordings of the social marine mammals as tens of thousands congregate in the Churchill River this summer
How a Trove of Whaling Logbooks Will Help Scientists Understand Our Changing Climate
Researchers are examining more than 4,200 New England documents to turn descriptions of the wind into data
Medieval Icelanders Likely Hunted Blue Whales
New research suggests Viking-age hunters took down the biggest animal on Earth
Belugas May Communicate by Changing the Shape of Their Squishy Foreheads
Scientists documented five different melon shapes among the marine mammals living in captivity: push, flat, lift, shake and press
Scientists Discover a 'Phonetic Alphabet' Used by Sperm Whales, Moving One Step Closer to Decoding Their Chatter
Researchers used artificial intelligence to spot patterns in recordings of the marine mammals' vocalizations, uncovering the "building blocks of whale language"
Rescuers Save 130 Beached Pilot Whales in Western Australia After Mass Stranding
An additional 29 whales died, officials reported last week, while the reason behind the stranding remains unknown
Journey Under the Sea With 15 Amazing Photos of Marine Life
These Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images feature the captivating creatures that live beneath the waves
Two New Species of Killer Whale Should Be Recognized, Study Says
A couple of eastern North Pacific populations of orcas have qualities that set them apart, according to researchers
Five Shocking Animal Hybrids That Truly Exist in Nature, From Narlugas to Grolar Bears to Coywolves
The now-famous “virgin” stingray Charlotte is not having hybrid babies, scientists say. But in nature, distinct species sometimes interbreed to produce surprising offspring
Why Did Seals and Sea Lions Never Commit to a Life Fully at Sea?
While whales moved from living on land to an existence immersed in water, pinnipeds embraced an amphibious lifestyle
Whales That Go Through Menopause Live Longer and May Help Care for Grandchildren
Alongside humans, five species of toothed whales are known to experience menopause. A new study suggests they evolved the trait to increase their lifespan
A Rare Gray Whale, Believed Extinct in the Atlantic for 200 Years, Has Been Spotted off New England
Scientists say a lack of Arctic sea ice due to climate change could have created a passageway for the mammal to travel from the Pacific Ocean
These Photos Are the First to Show Humpback Whales Mating—and Both Are Males
Photographers spotted the interaction in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Maui in 2022
Single Orca Spotted Killing a Great White Shark for the First Time Ever
In less than two minutes, the marine mammal attacked a juvenile white shark and ripped out its liver in an encounter off the coast of South Africa last year
7,000 Humpback Whales May Have Starved to Death During the 'Blob' Heatwave
The unprecedented marine heat between 2013 and 2016 in the North Pacific likely drove the whales' 20 percent decline, a trend revealed by citizen science observations
Scientists Discover How Some Whales Can Sing While Holding Their Breath Underwater
Baleen whales have evolved unique voice boxes essential for song, a new study finds—but these low-frequency vocalizations must compete with the noise of humans' ships
Celebrate Winter in the Wild With 15 Photos of Animals Enjoying the Snow
These chilly but cute creatures will remind you what’s so wonderful about winter
Page 1 of 15