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Scientists Think They Finally Know Why Some Whales Float Upside Down

Researchers say southern right whale mothers may float belly-up to rest, conserve energy, and briefly keep hungry calves from nursing.

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If you’ve ever spotted a whale floating on its back and wondered whether it was sick, dying, or participating in some bizarre, unknowable whale ritual, rest easy. Scientists think they’ve finally figured it out, and the answer is much more relatable than you’d expect: they’re probably just chilling. It’s a little whale R&R.

According to a new study published in Mammalian Biology and explained by the researchers in The Conversation, southern right whale mothers float upside down to recover during one of the most physically........

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