Biology
How Social Learning Shapes Foraging Traditions in Humpback Whales
Quick fact
Different groups of humpback whales use distinct foraging techniques—some lobtail, others don't—and these differences are passed on through social learning, making them a form of animal culture.
Why this is interesting
Humpback whales don't just inherit their feeding tricks—they learn them from each other. How does a behavior like bubble-net feeding spread through a population and become a local tradition?