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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

When blue whales ignore their rightward leanings

World’s biggest mammals take sides when catching prey.
Two blue whales filter feeding at sea surface.

Two blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) feed on krill in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Credit: Doc White/naturepl.com

Much as humans do, blue whales usually favour their right side — but they switch to their left to gain an advantage over prey.

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Nature 551, 544 (2017)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-017-07295-5

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