Scientists have discovered that humpback whales sing songs that follow the rules of pop music. They have similar structure and characteristics and are even catchy to all members of the group. When they get bored with a tune, they come up with a new one. 1)
Sperm whales sleep in a very strange position - upright with their head up. Also, the sperm whale sleeps between 6 p.m. and midnight. It was originally thought that sperm whales sleep like dolphins, staying alert, but this has not been proven. 2)
Blue whales tan to avoid damage from ultraviolet (UV) rays. 3)
Female whales not only see their partners often, but they are also able to find other friends with whom they get along. This behavior is unique to females, and those individuals that have friends are healthier and have younger babies. 4)
Herman Melville based his novel, Moby Dick, on a true story about a whale named Mocha Dick that sank an English ship in 1820. The survivors of the disaster lived on an island where they had to resort to cannibalism. The true version of events is said to be even more horrific than the one presented in the book. 5)