Climate & Environmentarticle2026-08-14

Observation of lunge-feeding by pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) in the Wetar Strait of Timor-Leste

Open access0 citations

Abstract

An aerial observation of of pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) sub-surface feeding in the Wetar Straight of Timor-Leste. Based on current understanding of their foraging ecology, these whales were probably feeding opportunistically on krill-like zooplankton.

// Source

View paper (DOI)Open access versionOpenAlexPacific Conservation BiologyPublished 2026-08-14

Authors: Ben D’Antonio, C. Judd, Laura-Marie Dehne, Michael Doane, Rob Harcourt, Deonisio Manuel Ratu Lourdes Matos, Eben Hall, Adam Wolffbrandt, Vincent Pieribone, Agostinho RodRigues, Mark Meekan

Institutions: Macquarie University, The University of Western Australia, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Flinders University, National University of East Timor, Ocean Institute, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Association of Southeast Asian Nations