Oct 9 2009Cool!: Beluga Whales Can Blow Bubble Rings
So apparently beluga whales know how to blow bubble rings, making them perfect for children's birthday parties and arguably the smartest creatures in the ocean. You hear that merfolk? Your finned asses just got demoted!
And while they chug through the water at a sluggish 2 to 5mph, their mental power more than makes up for their slowness. Scientists don't really know why Belugas - like their fellow marine mammals, the dolphins - are fond of blowing bubbles and then chasing them. But it's likely that, just like children, they simply enjoy messing about.
Some scientists have called Belugas the most intelligent creatures on earth. But don't confuse that large forehead with a huge brain.It is actually filled with a lump of wax, which is thought to help the whales communicate. In fact, they are so talkative - using chirps, squeals and squeaks - that their nickname is 'the canary of the sea'.
Yes, 'the canary of the sea'. Not to be confused with 'the poisonous chicken of the sea', which is the Japanese Puffer Fish. I ate twelve and still lived! NOW WHO'S THE DEADLIEST CATCH COMPETITIVE EATER?! This guy.
Hit the jump for several more of the ring-blowing fun.
Lovely bubbly! Beluga whales are the ocean's cleverest creatures, but they aren't above a spot of fun [dailymail]
Thanks to Aaron, who has swam with the dolphins before and said it was life changing. And not JUST because he fell in love with one.
Reader Comments
1. Tobyraider - October 9, 2009 10:08 AM
Whatever, I can do that.....
Actually that's really cool.
2. ReverendFaux - October 9, 2009 10:09 AM
Teach them how to smoke.
3. Tobyraider - October 9, 2009 10:09 AM
BTW, what the he*ll was going on with the site yesterday.. It was acting like someone hacked it and posted that stupid Anna Nicole crap repeatedly....
Glad it's finally gone.
4. madgame - October 9, 2009 10:11 AM
GW I know it's tough being geeking the ologie 24/7 so here's a little something for you.
There's a hero if you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid of what you are.
There's an answer if you reach into your soul
and the sorrow that you know will melt away
And then a hero comes along
with the strength to carry on
and you cast your fears aside
and you know you can survive.
So, when you feel like hope is gone
look inside you and be strong
and you'll finally see the truth
that a hero lies in you.
It's a long road when you face the world alone,
No one reaches out a hand for you to hold.
You can find love if you search within yourself
and the emptiness you felt will disappear.
And then a hero comes along
with the strength to carry on
and you cast your fears aside
and you know you can survive.
So, when you feel like hope is gone
look inside you and be strong
and you'll finally see the truth
that a hero lies in you.
no ho-mo
5. Ham Bone - October 9, 2009 10:13 AM
Cindy? ... oh sorry i thought that was a girl i used to date
6. naas - October 9, 2009 10:21 AM
@4 - i LOVE that song. "with the strength to carry oooon"
7. AtomicCoffee - October 9, 2009 10:21 AM
I once had a ferret that could shoot heroin. He kept abusing me and stealing money from my wallet. I love him, and I miss him, but I just can't trust him anymore.
God, I'm lonely.
8. naas - October 9, 2009 10:22 AM
i wonder if that's the only thing they can blow?
9. Closet Nerd - October 9, 2009 10:25 AM
I got a hookah from Egypt and I'll blow smoke bubbles for the kids.
I know it sounds bad, but its not really that bad, and its only occasionally, and its the hookah tobacco which is a lot of molasses.
10. lina - October 9, 2009 10:30 AM
It seems as if my boy friend is smoking, they are much cutter though...
11. Blastphemer - October 9, 2009 10:31 AM
I have it on good authority that they can indeed blow "other" things. That's right...just grab on to that wax filled, bulbous protrusion and your in for something really special. Pucker up baby beluga...you know what time it is.
On a side note: I thought mice were the smartest beings on Earth, hence running all those experiments on our top scientists for decades upon decades. So long and thanks for all the fish.
12. Jiakasuma - October 9, 2009 10:45 AM
I <3 things that blow
13. Daisy - October 9, 2009 10:46 AM
FAKE!!!!
This is a complete photoshop job. You can tell its a fake because the shadow's are all wrong.
This is exactly like that scene in the movie Never Back Down where Max was transporting a prisoner to the helicopter on the Pan Am building and got beat up by the courtesy phones.
14. JADE - October 9, 2009 10:46 AM
Naas your little thing would get sooo lost in that big fishy mouth.
15. JADE - October 9, 2009 10:52 AM
@13 your wrong Daisy I saw this on tv and there was a couple of them blowing rings. It was really cool. So your shadow theory is WRONG WRONG WRONG.
16. Timbo - October 9, 2009 10:54 AM
Smartest creatures in the ocean??, but they chase spit bubbles???
...I don't know about that
17. Hawk - October 9, 2009 11:04 AM
Can they give blow JOBS?
:>>
18. Pat - October 9, 2009 11:16 AM
In other news, Beluga whales make desperate plea to become more adorable than they already are.
19. jodie - October 9, 2009 12:00 PM
@10 He smokes and he's a cutter??
Wow...you should dump him.
20. naas(TRO) - October 9, 2009 1:11 PM
@6 I always love when ppl sing on geekologie(especially Pew³ - he can sing) - - so I actually would've said the same thing cept with a ♪ note in there. Well done
@8 definitely not the only thing, no
@10 if your boyfriend's an emo, he's much cutter then the dolphin then - yes
@all happy friday
21. Ted - October 9, 2009 1:54 PM
They call them the 'canary of the sea' because they die if you throw them down a mine.
22. Batman - October 9, 2009 5:15 PM
They have to be the coolest animal in the ocean now, and for everyone if you smoke pot and can blow rings, you can also be cool!!!!
23. Dconnors - October 9, 2009 7:01 PM
Dophins playing with bubble rings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMCf7SNUb-Q&feature=related
Also, if you love dolphins go see "The Cove" - an awesome documentary exposing the dolphin slaughters in Japan.
24. Jaded Icon - October 10, 2009 7:30 AM
They will surpass the human race once they figure out how to blow squares....
25. Geekolojew - October 10, 2009 7:39 AM
Must See!!!
http://alturl.com/obg7
________________
26. Azzy - October 10, 2009 8:29 AM
BELUGA I CHOOSE YOU!
BUBBLE RING!
japanese people should have began making pokeballs instead of robots....I will definitely catch you someday, Beluga....just wait >))
27. holidays to sharm el sheikh - October 12, 2009 1:46 AM
Hi..
I thought mice were the smartest beings on Earth, hence running all those experiments on our top scientists for decades upon decades. So long and thanks for all the fish.
28. ubflamed - October 12, 2009 1:48 PM
Looks like a sonar ray disintegrating a tuna.
29. Dolphin - October 14, 2009 3:10 PM
Excellent, very informative. Keep up the good work!!!