Doug Perrine / Bryde's whale {Balaenoptera brydei / edeni} with throat pleats expanded after feeding on baitball of Sardines {Sardinops sagax} off Baja California, Mexico, Eastern Pacific Ocean. Veolia Environnement...

Mark Brownlow / Sperm whale {Physeter macrocephalus} diving, tail fluke, Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand

DOC WHITE / Blue whale underwater close-up of head and mouth feeding with pouch inflated, Mexico

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) pod gulp feeding on Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax), Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf breaching, Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf breaching, Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf breaching, Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching at sunset, Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching, Monterey Bay, California

Tony Wu / Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), group socialising in shallow water, aerial view. Part of larger group of more than 50 whales congregating, Sea of Okhotsk sub-population, Russia.

Tony Wu / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) female with suckling calf. Vava'u Islands, Tonga.

Tony Wu / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) male calf playing at ocean surface after coming up to breathe. Vava'u Islands, Tonga.

Gary Bell/ Oceanwide / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching, Tonga

Jordi Chias / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Jordi Chias / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) spyhopping, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Jordi Chias / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) spyhoping, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Jordi Chias / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) fluke Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Jordi Chias / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) diving, tail fluke, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Jordi Chias / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), adult and baby at surface, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Jordi Chias / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) surfacing with baby and blowing, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Tony Wu / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) lying on its side while executing a series of pectoral fin slaps on ocean surface. Vava'u, Tonga, South Pacific.

Tony Wu / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) female breaching. Vava'u, Tonga. Pacific Ocean.

Tony Wu / Humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) female nudging her mother's mammary gland whilst trying to feed. Vava;u, Tonga, South Pacific.

Tony Wu / North Pacific humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae kuzira) breaching, Icy Strait, Alaska, USA. July.

Alex Mustard / RF - Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving vertically down into the ocean to feed. Indian Ocean, off Sri Lanka. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Alex Mustard / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) swimming beneath the surface of the ocean. Indian Ocean, off Sri Lanka.

Alex Mustard / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) swims beneath the surface of the ocean. Indian Ocean, off Sri Lanka.

Espen Bergersen / Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) showing tail fluke when they dive. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. December

Espen Bergersen / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) feeding around herring fishing vessel. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November

Espen Bergersen / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) diving. In background a diving boat and 3 divers visible in the water. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November

Espen Bergersen / Aerial view of Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus). Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November

Espen Bergersen / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) showing tail fluke as it dives. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November

Espen Bergersen / Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November

Espen Bergersen / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) showing tail fluke as it dives. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. December

Nick Hawkins / North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) tail fluke, diving to feed in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Canada. Endangered species. July

Nick Hawkins / Fishing ropes wrap around the head and mouth, damaging the baleen of a severely entangled North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Canada. Fishing gear entanglem...

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of a fishing boat catching Atlantic herring (Clupea harenguis), with Killer whales (Orcinus orca) and Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) swimming around the boat and large numbers of...

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of a fishing boat catching Atlantic herring (Clupea harenguis), with Killer whales (Orcinus orca) and Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) swimming around the boats and large numbers o...

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of a huge shoal of Atlantic herring (Clupea harenguis), with a Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) nearby, Sommaroy, Troms. Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of five Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in a shoal of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) with some fish jumping out of the water, Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of a group of Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in a shoal of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) with some fish jumping out of the water, one whale creating a bubble n...

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of five Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in a shoal of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) with some fish jumping out of the water, Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in a shoal of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of four Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in a shoal of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) with some fish jumping out of the water, Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of four Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in a shoal of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) with some fish jumping out of the water, Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of four Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in a shoal of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) with some fish jumping out of the water, Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of four Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) swimming near to a shoal of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of four Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) lunge feeding in a shoal of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) with some fish jumping out of the water, Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of a Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) swimming showing belly, Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of a Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) showing belly and blowing, Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of a Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) diving and showing tail fluke, Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of a large group of Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of a large group of Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of two Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) coming to the surface to breathe, Sommaroy, Troms, Norway, January.

Espen Bergersen / Aerial shot of a female Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and calf surrounded by Killer whales (Orcinus orca), mother hits sideways with her tail fluke to drive Killer whales away, Skjervoy, Tro...

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) lunge-feeding in the southern Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico.

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view of Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) lunge-feeding, with throat pouch distended, southern Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico.

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view of Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) lunge-feeding, with mouth open and throat pouch distended, southern Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico.

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) lunge-feeding in the southern Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico.

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) lunge-feeding in the southern Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico.

David Pattyn / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching in front of a tourist boat, Puerto Lopez , Santa Elena Peninsula, Manabi Province, Ecuador, July

David Pattyn / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) two breaching at the same time together, Puerto Lopez , Santa Elena Peninsula, Manabi Province, Ecuador, July, Puerto Lopez , Santa Elena Peninsula, Manabi Prov...

David Gallan / Two Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) playing in shallows, taken with drone, Tathra Beach, New South Wales, Australia, August.

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Maui, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf, Maui, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching, Maui, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) juvenile breaching, Maui, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) tail slapping at sunrise, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) mother and calf, Maui, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf, Maui, Hawaii

David Fleetham / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching, watched by paddle boarder. Canoe Beach, Maui. Hawaii. October 2010. Model released. Digital composite.

Paul Souders/ Worldfoto / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) pod cooperative bubble-net feeding, Frederick Sound, Alaska

Paul Souders/ Worldfoto / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) pod cooperative bubble-net feeding, Frederick Sound, Alaska

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) gulp feeding on Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax), Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) pod gulp feeding, Monterey Bay, California

Mark Carwardine / Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) aerial. Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) blowing or spouting and fluking, Southeast Alaska, USA, August.

Hiroya Minakuchi / Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) sailing at sunset, Peninsula Valdez, Argentina

David Fleetham / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), mother and calf swimming just below surface in front of the West Maui Mountains. South of Lahaina, West Maui, Hawaii.

Juergen Freund / Slow motion aerial shot of a Pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) blowing / breathing at the surface before diving, Banda Sea, Indonesia.

Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) breaching, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, February

Tony Wu / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) female, stationary with calf heading to surface for breath of air. Vava'u, Tonga, South Pacific.

Tony Wu / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) in Indian Ocean, Mirissa, Matara, Sri Lanka.

Hiroya Minakuchi / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) trio gulp feeding, Inside Passage, southeast Alaska

Hiroya Minakuchi / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) pod gulp feeding, Inside Passage, southeast Alaska

Hiroya Minakuchi / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) pod gulp feeding, Inside Passage, southeast Alaska

Franco Banfi / Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) Trincomalee, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean

Franco Banfi / Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) tail, Trincomalee, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean

Alex Mustard / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving beneath the surface. Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka.

Agustin Esmoris / Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) surfacing with Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) picking off lice, Chubut, Argentina, sequence 1 of 4

Ralph Pace / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) male and female courting, Maui, Hawaii, image taken under NMFS Permit # 19225

Mark Carwardine / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) at water surface with mouth open showing baleen plates, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico

Tony Wu / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) adult female at rest. The tubercles on the whale's head are clearly visible, as are the barnacles (Coronula diadema), whale lice (Cyamus boopis), and hairs on t...