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Video: Dolphins ride whales in Hawaii

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Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:01a.m.

A dottlenose dolphin "rides" a humpback whale (Photo: L Mazzuza, NOAA Scientific Research Permit)

A dottlenose dolphin "rides" a humpback whale (Photo: L Mazzuza, NOAA Scientific Research Permit)

Have you ever wanted to hitch a ride on a whale?

Bottlenose dolphins have been documented for the first time "riding" humpback whales in Hawaiian waters. The whales lift the dolphins into the air with their heads before letting them slide back down into the water.

Scientists believe it is simply a game, as neither species displayed signs of aggression or distress.

While whales and dolphins often interact in Hawaiian waters, such playful social behaviour is extremely rare between species.

Images of the display appear 30 seconds into the video at the bottom of this article, posted recently by the American Museum of Natural History.

Humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian waters each northern winter to nurse and mate.

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Comments

14 Feb 2012 02:44p.m.

Kboy wrote:

Dolphales? :P

14 Feb 2012 12:47p.m.

ash wrote:

so if they start mating would that make there babies Whalephins?