RV Polarstern expedition PS112MARSYS student-project on fin whale feeding behaviour published

Fig. 1: Aerial photographs of an arced right‐side lunge‐feeding sequence performed by an individual fin whale: (a) lunge approach in upright position (ventral‐side down); (b) initiating the side‐roll manoeuvre along the longitudinal axis; (c) immediately before the start ofthe engulfment sequence, the side‐roll position of approximately 90° to the right (right pectoral fin pointing down) is reached and the fluke is flexed upward (dorsally); (d) the engulfment sequence is initiated with the opening of the buccal cavity and the downward thrust of the fluke generating forward propulsion; (e) visible inflation of the ventral groove blubber (VGB) as the fluke is in the process of thrusting downward; (f) the end of the engulfment sequence, displayed by the closing of the buccal cavity while the VGB is inflated, as well as beginning to roll to an upright position while purging and filtering the engulfed water. Screengrabs obtained from video footage collected during RV Polarstern expedition PS112. ©BBC.