Opportunistic Feeding of an Adult Humpback Whale (<I>Megaptera novaeangliae</I>) Migrating Along the Coast of Southeastern Queensland, Australia

Abstract

In the austral winter of July 2004, off southeastern Queensland, Australia, we observed apparent feeding by an adult humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in association with Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). This is the first documented case of an adult humpback whale from the southern hemisphere Group V stock feeding along the migratory corridor. This observation also represents the first published record of a humpback whale feeding in association with Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins.