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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

🧬🐋 The future of marine mammal conservation goes beyond genomics! A new review in Molecular Ecology explores how genomic tools and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge can work together to support more equitable and effective conservation. 🌊 Read our latest article: whalescientists.com/building-the...

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

The long-term goal is to obtain a reference genome for all cetacean species, with priority given to endangered species and one species per genus. Since progress depends heavily on access to suitable samples, this is a highly collaboration-driven project. www.cetaceangenomesproject.org

cetaceangenomesproject.org

CGP

The Cetacean Genomes Project aims to facilitate the generation of reference genomes of all cetacean species.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Calling cetacean researchers and collaborators! 🧬 We’re sharing on behalf of the Cetacean Genomes Project, a global initiative working to generate reference-quality genomes for cetaceans worldwide. They are looking for contributors/collaborators working with samples, genomic data, or collections.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

There’s still a lot we don’t know about these whales. But for the first time, we’re starting to see the big picture! 📖 Towers J.R. et al. — Total Numbers and Movements of Photo-identified Subantarctic (Type D) Killer Whales. Marine Mammal Science, 2026 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Total Numbers and Movements of Photo‐Identified Subantarctic (Type D) Killer Whales

The distinctive Subantarctic (Type D) killer whale (DKW) (Orcinus orca) is a highly divergent and apparently inbred form previously known only from three mass strandings and several dozen at-sea sigh...

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

The population is also culturally divided: about half regularly steal Patagonian toothfish from longlines, a behavior socially learned and maintained within tight groups for over two decades, while the other half have never adopted it despite sharing the same habitat.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Despite being one of the most inbred mammal populations ever recorded, Type D orcas are more numerous and wide-ranging than expected. Some individuals traveled over 4,400 km between the southern Indian Ocean and South Atlantic — the longest east-west movement ever recorded for a killer whale.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

✨ NEW KILLER WHALE RESEARCH ✨ Type D killer whales were only officially described in 2011, and until now we’ve had almost no idea how many exist, where they go, or how they live. A new 21-year study is the first to tackle those questions, and the answers are surprising.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

🧪 Whale hormones… from less than a grain of rice A new method can measure 8 hormones (like stress & pregnancy) from tiny blubber samples, meaning more insight from every biopsy. 🐋 Stranded whales showed higher stress 🇳🇴 ONE sample can now reveal pollution, diet & health Big step for conservation

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Playback experiments in Iceland showed that orcas quickly switched to high-speed travel away from the sound source, tightened their group formation, and often went completely silent after hearing pilot whale calls. Their reaction was strikingly similar to how they respond to military sonar.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

New research reveals something unexpected: when killer whales hear the calls of long-finned pilot whales, they don’t investigate — they leave. Fast.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Great work Lucas Bernier on uncovering the lives of one of the ocean’s least-studied dolphins! We love featuring cool research by early-career scientists, and this was a beautiful opportunity to take a virtual trip to the Caribbean. whalescientists.com/frasers-dolp...

whalescientists.com

Fraser’s dolphins in the Caribbean: Social island hoppers

Fraser's dolphins have found a stronghold in the island chain stretching from Grenada to Anguilla, and island hop along the Lesser Antilles.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

🐬 Fraser’s dolphins in the Caribbean turn out to be the ultimate social networkers, swimming with other species 83% of the time while island-hopping across 229km of ocean.

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Reposted by Whale Scientists

Whale Tales @whaletalesorg.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Anaïs brought some fascinating info with her to the Whale Tales Podcast this month and while a lot of it was disheartening, as always there are things you can do to help! buff.ly/fS9t7qg #WhaleTales #WhaleTalesPodcast @anaisremili.bsky.social @whalescientists.bsky.social

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Can whales smell? The answer is not so simple!

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

The recap of the study by Sebastian Alvarez-Costes on his new study! Super fascinating and inspiring work 🐬✨

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Scientists have assembled the first high-quality genomes of New Zealand’s Hector’s + critically endangered Māui dolphins using degraded DNA—an unprecedented breakthrough that offers insights for conservation and a new path forward for endangered species worldwide. whalescientists.com/new-zealand-...

whalescientists.com

New Genome Assembly Approach Unlocks Secrets of Critically Endangered Dolphins in New Zealand

Despite working with degraded DNA, scientists assembled high-quality genomes of New Zealand's dolphins, with insights for conservation.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

A new and exciting @nature.com Communications study reveals baleen whales operate the planet's largest nutrient transport system, moving tons of nitrogen and carbon from polar feeding grounds to tropical breeding areas. Great job @jjkiszka.bsky.social and coauthors ✨

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Find Martin's recap on Whale Scientists: whalescientists.com/humpback-wha... @lbejder1971.bsky.social

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

New research reveals the extraordinary energy demands of humpback whale mothers, who travel over 3,000 miles without food to birth and nourish their 2,600-pound calves, a feat now further imperiled by climate change and marine heatwaves disrupting their critical food supply.

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Reposted by Whale Scientists

cherinebaumgartner.bsky.social @cherinebaumgartner.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

🧬 New Paper 🧬 Together with Eve Jourdain, @andrewfoote.bsky.social, @fipsamarra.bsky.social et al. we investigated how ecological & spatio-temporal factors shape gene flow in killer whales from Greenland to Norway. 🧶⬇️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.com

Kinship clustering within an ecologically diverse killer whale metapopulation - Heredity

Heredity - Kinship clustering within an ecologically diverse killer whale metapopulation

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

New study: Researchers studied how "forever chemicals" (PFAS) are affecting Arctic wildlife, specifically polar bears and ringed seals.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Did you know killer whale poo is green? @anaisremili.bsky.social has been working with some precious samples for a metabolomics project. She told us the shades vary from green-brownish to bright green.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

This is a tiny condensate so make sure to read the whole story (link in bio) and thank you to all these amazing ladies for their time and extremely valuable advice! @carissaandclimate.bsky.social whalescientists.com/whale-resear...

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

To prove it, we asked six inspiring early-career women to share how they carved out their niche in marine mammal science, offering insight and inspiration on where a master’s degree can take you. @emmaluck22.bsky.social @intertidalkendy.bsky.social

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Dreaming of a career in whale research but worried about needing a PhD? Good news—you don’t need one to contribute meaningfully to the field!

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Over seven years in the eastern North Atlantic, researchers used drones to identify 336 individual sperm whales by their unique scars, patterns, and skin marks!

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Ever wondered how scientists identify sperm whales? Traditionally, it’s all about capturing photos of their tail flukes when they dive. But what if the whales don’t dive? Enter drones: a game-changer in marine mammal research.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

This chemistry-based method lets scientists unlock secrets from stranded whales’ tissues, revealing their diets, habitats, and place in the food chain—all without direct observation. whalescientists.com/study-deep-d...

whalescientists.com

How To Study The Deepest Diving Whales? Use Chemistry!

Stable isotope analysis reveals the diets, habitats, and food chain position of elusive deep-diving whales without direct observation.

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

🧪 How To Study The Deepest Diving Whales? Use Chemistry! 🐋 Beaked whales are elusive deep divers, making them tough to study. But stable isotope analysis is changing that!

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Whale Scientists @whalescientists.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

The Australian snubfin dolphin is one of Australia’s only endemic dolphin species, identified as a new species in 2005. This small dolphin is adorable, but it faces conservation threats due to its small population and coastal habitat preference. whalescientists.com/australian-s...

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