Not very often. This video is from their winter habitat in Mexico, where they have a lot of casual interactions like this with small boats in their calving lagoons. But outside of this setting, they summer in the Arctic where there's very little boat traffic, and they migrate between in the spring and fall, but they're on the move and many of the boats they encounter would ram them and kill them by accident. I posted more about this here: /gallery/enough-already-6v33cCF
The video is real, the caption is probably BS. The whale is coming over for interaction, not for grooming. I posted more about this here: /gallery/enough-already-6v33cCF
“Suddenly the great beast appeared before me. I tell ya he was ten stories high if he was a foot! As if sensing my presence he gave out a big bellow. I said, “Easy big fella!"”
The caption is likely overstating the case a bit. The whales approach the boats for interactions with boats/people, yes, but not really for grooming purposes. I posted more about this here: /gallery/enough-already-6v33cCF
So does Salmon. Especially if raised in aquatic farms. The lice weaken the Salmon's immune system which makes it easy for bacteria to populate the salmons body. They get eaten alive by the bacteria. Saw that on a science mag yesterday. I'll never eat Salmon again.
I can't find it, but I have vague memories of a Godzilla-esque ocean monster with some kind of lice like whales get. Big ones, though. Large enough to kill/mangle a human being.
You already got your answer, but that is one of the very few movies outside of easily digestible comedies that I have really enjoyed! Thank you for reminding me that it exists. Will put that (and The Host, apropos large monsters) on my list to rewatch!
And they also carrier some kind of horrible disease. The movie also has 2 semi sequel/prequels, sureounding the same events but telling an entirely different story (and genre), cloverfield paradox explains where the monster came from, sort of
Grey whales are famous for having the greatest ectoparasite loads of any whale species, because they feed off animals that live in the mud. So, really, they are rubbing against something (the bottom) and it's actually precisely this that's why they have all this crust to begin with.
He is pulling off the limpets, which are a snail whose teeth are the strongest known natural material on the planet. In fact , it is stronger than titanium. They can grind away the shell and organic materials, and the teeth will remain as they can not be ground away by stone. Then ground down in a diamond mill, and the resulting power is used to make a very expensive pill that fights osteoporosis and hardens bone. There are no documented cases of anyone breaking a bone after 4 months of use.
In fairness, whales are like our peaceful hippie cousins. The rest of nature, not so much. Not sure how many bears I could pick lice off before I ended up in a morgue.
i agree but on the other hand how many times have we seen one species of animal helping another, see a lot animals do better than humans, dogs looking after kittens, snakes and toads etc,
Well, maybe not always THIS hands-on, in fact, hands-off is usually best, where nature is concerned, but this is the SPIRIT of how we should relate to nature. Responsible, ethical stewardship.
Remember: you are also an ecosystem-hosting giant! Between mites, worms, and microbes; the only difference between you and this image is scale and hygiene!
The lice predominantly eat algae that settle on the host's body. They usually feed off the flaking skin of the host and frequent wounds or open areas. They cause minor skin damage, but this does not lead to significant illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_louse
Usually, external parasites are mild until your health is otherwise fucked, and then they blow up. Sick animals will often be infested far worse. This whale was probably dead or dying when it got this bad.
Feralkyn
Giant water horse
LokiShade
I bet a not-too-hard deck brush would do the job and feel amazing to the whale.
prettypleasewithsugarontop
They're having a whale of a time!
tiduszecht
"Please, sir, i have no hands and i must scratch!"
LarryChupacabra
I wonder how often whales itch those off on boats. Probably startled a few sailors.
TheJuiceLoosener
Not very often. This video is from their winter habitat in Mexico, where they have a lot of casual interactions like this with small boats in their calving lagoons. But outside of this setting, they summer in the Arctic where there's very little boat traffic, and they migrate between in the spring and fall, but they're on the move and many of the boats they encounter would ram them and kill them by accident. I posted more about this here: /gallery/enough-already-6v33cCF
UnkindledOne
That's a dinosaur
YippeeKayakOB
derzoomer
that is a lot of surface area to clean off though
afnoot42
Surface area? Your nose has a lot of surface area!
CouldntCakeLess
Licence to lice
Eiladar
Lice, lice baby.
APFSDS
How 99% of the creatures in the world get by without opposable thumbs, I’ll never know.
Feralkyn
OxytocinChaser
Looks like a water dragon to me.
coastercrazypics
These days I can't tell if the video is real or not. If real, that is fucking dope. If it's AI, eat shit for playing us.
TheJuiceLoosener
The video is real, the caption is probably BS. The whale is coming over for interaction, not for grooming. I posted more about this here: /gallery/enough-already-6v33cCF
PoorSucker
Whale done
Naramumu
So this is what makes all those free to play games floating around all these years.
SinisterSlaw
Whales are hella smart. No doubt about it.
DonkeyGoat
He's doing a lousy job.
Betterbecauseofthem
Never thought of be envious of a guy picking bugs off whales but I am
TheJuiceLoosener
You can do it yourself. I posted more about this here: /gallery/enough-already-6v33cCF
pak0chu
Finding a good human is one of the best ways to rid yourself from barnacles
ionlylikepoodles
“Hey, you with the hands. Do the thing”
littlecoatfatguy
“Suddenly the great beast appeared before me. I tell ya he was ten stories high if he was a foot! As if sensing my presence he gave out a big bellow. I said, “Easy big fella!"”
IakobZ
Fren
allenvasher3000
What an honor to be trusted be a whale in the wild
TheJuiceLoosener
The caption is likely overstating the case a bit. The whales approach the boats for interactions with boats/people, yes, but not really for grooming purposes. I posted more about this here: /gallery/enough-already-6v33cCF
allenvasher3000
Thank you
Mikeman4444
Welp, TIL whales get 'lice' (little crabs) and ew
swissdoode
So does Salmon. Especially if raised in aquatic farms. The lice weaken the Salmon's immune system which makes it easy for bacteria to populate the salmons body. They get eaten alive by the bacteria. Saw that on a science mag yesterday. I'll never eat Salmon again.
jt42
Probably stayed at the wrong hotel.
WhattaMattahYou
I can't find it, but I have vague memories of a Godzilla-esque ocean monster with some kind of lice like whales get. Big ones, though. Large enough to kill/mangle a human being.
mouthfullofpebbles
You already got your answer, but that is one of the very few movies outside of easily digestible comedies that I have really enjoyed! Thank you for reminding me that it exists. Will put that (and The Host, apropos large monsters) on my list to rewatch!
Z0op
And they also carrier some kind of horrible disease.
The movie also has 2 semi sequel/prequels, sureounding the same events but telling an entirely different story (and genre), cloverfield paradox explains where the monster came from, sort of
yuscha
Pacific Rim had this as well - but they weren't quite so big
ArcadianXero
Cloverfield
WhattaMattahYou
THANK YOU, there's some kind of isopod tongue horror movie that was cluttering the results and sometimes the Internet is just too much.
Appreciate you.
ArcadianXero
👍
Magus25
It must be strange to not be able to scratch or clean yourself. Living in water without ever things to rub against must be maddening at times.
TheJuiceLoosener
Grey whales are famous for having the greatest ectoparasite loads of any whale species, because they feed off animals that live in the mud. So, really, they are rubbing against something (the bottom) and it's actually precisely this that's why they have all this crust to begin with.
eigeress
I wish he could brush its whole blubbery body to get parasites off. But what a lovely man to do what he can.
timmargh
They could make one of those things they put up for cows to rub themselves up against, but like a really really big one
eigeress
Except they need their seaslime. :D
It's why picking them off is the only real remedy. But they probably do have reefs or rocks they rub against.
senseicombs
He is pulling off the limpets, which are a snail whose teeth are the strongest known natural material on the planet. In fact , it is stronger than titanium. They can grind away the shell and organic materials, and the teeth will remain as they can not be ground away by stone. Then ground down in a diamond mill, and the resulting power is used to make a very expensive pill that fights osteoporosis and hardens bone. There are no documented cases of anyone breaking a bone after 4 months of use.
BishlamekGurpgork
This is like three equivalent of trying to set Monster Hunter in modern day earth. "Hunt whales for limpet-tooth drops to craft a pill of endurance."
thotterpop
I saw another comment mentioning the lice being like crabs, but yours is cooler and more descriptive.
senseicombs
Well, it's April fools, and I 100% made that up, so don't go looking for the pills.
thotterpop
https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1dTR4dnpwOTlhYXRuZ2UyNGJkenk5MThtMTQ4YWpjYmNqZHBqanBibCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/1kI8UsCjEwfiXc3TYy/200w.webp
Carl99
You had me i the first half.
SnakesInBowties
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
nickasaurusrex83
A friend with weed is better.
SnakesInBowties
If your need was weed you'd have a friend indeed in this case, lol.
mynci
A friend with breasts and all the rest
SnakesInBowties
lol
Fleppenstein
A friend who's dressed in leather
SuicidalThots666
See, THIS is the kind of relationship humanity needs to form with the rest of nature.
seoras13
The kind of relationship humanity needs to form with humanity
insertwittyjoke
In fairness, whales are like our peaceful hippie cousins. The rest of nature, not so much. Not sure how many bears I could pick lice off before I ended up in a morgue.
Wizzbit
i agree but on the other hand how many times have we seen one species of animal helping another, see a lot animals do better than humans, dogs looking after kittens, snakes and toads etc,
SuicidalThots666
Well, maybe not always THIS hands-on, in fact, hands-off is usually best, where nature is concerned, but this is the SPIRIT of how we should relate to nature. Responsible, ethical stewardship.
HandoB4Javert
Whale Lice untreaated...
shinagami091
Looks like a whales version of herpes
Surisuule
Or crabs.
mohavewolfpup
Mmm, crab fest
CommodoreSkippy
Crabfest is back!
GemsAreOutrageousTrulyTrulyTrulyOutrageous
That headline. Chef's kiss.
thatsbadmmkay
https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1YW82aDh1bTB0b253eW42ZWR5b2xwOHoyaG00MWc2YWNvczgyNm83ayZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/jquDWJfPUMCiI/200w.webp
Rayfire3535
Oh My God.
hairytrigga
majordomo111350
CaveCanem
the ad paired with that is diabolical
Antzii
willieg
I did not need to see that this morning.
HandoB4Javert
LuLuPennyAndOdium44
Crabfest is back!
inquisitivefluff
SuicidalThots666
I don't care what anyone says; the Ocean Server has the most brutal meta in the entire game.
StellarJay77
Until the Space expansion drops and we get crazy species meta from other planets.
AlexSomething
Why do you think Ichthyostega bailed out?
alantosai
Remember: you are also an ecosystem-hosting giant! Between mites, worms, and microbes; the only difference between you and this image is scale and hygiene!
SuicidalThots666
Oh, don't even get me started on the jankiness that is the Human-Body-Biome server....
unsneakyLurker
And prehensile limbs that can reach any external part of your body!
alantosai
that helps too yeah
Myowngrampa
I'm not very flexible though
jzastrow
I Contain Multitudes
SuicidalThots666
My name is legion, for we are many!
prosper020
Dear god, are they eating the skin right off of it???
LuLuPennyAndOdium44
The lice predominantly eat algae that settle on the host's body. They usually feed off the flaking skin of the host and frequent wounds or open areas. They cause minor skin damage, but this does not lead to significant illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_louse
Feralkyn
Usually, external parasites are mild until your health is otherwise fucked, and then they blow up. Sick animals will often be infested far worse. This whale was probably dead or dying when it got this bad.
HandoB4Javert
Beautiful plumage...
HandoB4Javert
ollikahn
forbidden ocean verginas
HandoB4Javert
TheLegionofDoom
Got worse the longer I looked at it
Rayfire3535
Damn, the barnacles can get it too.
HandoB4Javert
Better to leave them on unless very small or infected under them.
When they add a lot of weight, the whale can try to remove them by rubbing against something
Rayfire3535
I meant the lice are all over the barnacles too.