For the first time on record, a pair of orcas (Orcinus orca) has been observed performing a rare tongue-nibbling behavior in the wild. This interaction, previously documented only in captive settings, was recorded by citizen scientists during a snorkeling expedition in Norway, offering new insights into killer whale social behavior.
Contents
Observation in Norwegian Fjords
The unique event occurred in October 2024 in the Kvænangen fjords, located in northern Norway, approximately 68 miles (109 kilometers) northeast of Tromsø. Citizen scientists participating in a whale-watching snorkeling trip witnessed and recorded the behavior.
The interaction involved two orcas and lasted for just under two minutes. During this time, the whales engaged in three separate bouts of gentle mouth-to-mouth contact, including tongue-nibbling. After the interaction concluded, the two orcas separated and swam in different directions.
Tongue-Nibbling: Known from Captivity
Prior to this observation in Norway, tongue-nibbling among orcas had only been reported in captive environments. The behavior was first noted in a captive orca in 1978. It was described again in 2019 involving orcas housed at Loro Parque, a zoo in Tenerife, Spain.
Trainers and researchers familiar with captive orcas were aware of the behavior, though they noted its infrequency, sometimes not occurring for several years. Despite efforts, wild orca researchers and divers had reported very few, if any, previous sightings of this specific action in natural settings.
Wild orcas doing tongue nibbling in Norway
Still frame from video footage recorded in the Kvænangen fjords, Norway, in 2024, showing the tongue-nibbling interaction between two free-ranging killer whales. (Image credit: Almunia et al/Oceans 2025)
Potential Significance of the Behavior
Researchers involved in studying the observation, published in the journal Oceans, suggest that tongue-nibbling may serve a social purpose among orcas. Mouth contact is a form of social communication seen across many animal species. For example, primates use kissing or lip-touching for bonding, while dogs and wolves may use mouth licking as a sign of respect or submission.
Javier Almunia, a marine mammal researcher and director at Loro Parque Fundación, noted that while tongue-nibbling itself hasn’t been recorded in other species, similar mouth-related interactions occur, such as mouth-to-mouth contact in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Given the adaptation of cetacean limbs to the marine environment, oral contact may be a particularly versatile means of social communication for these animals.
Almunia suggests the behavior is “affiliative,” meaning it relates to positive social interactions. It could potentially play a role in strengthening social bonds or helping to resolve conflicts, similar to how grooming or reconciliation behaviors function in other highly social species.
Captive orcas exhibiting tongue nibbling behavior
Still frame from video footage recorded at Loro Parque in 2013, illustrating the tongue-nibbling behavior between two killer whales in captivity. (Image credit: Almunia et al/Oceans 2025)
Alternative theories about the function of tongue-nibbling have also been proposed. Luke Rendall, a marine mammal researcher at the University of St. Andrews, suggests it could potentially be a form of begging to stimulate food transfers or even have a grooming or cleaning function. Without more data on the behavior within wild social structures, researchers can only speculate on its exact purpose.
One hypothesis presented in the study is that tongue-nibbling could be a form of “trend” play behavior, similar to transient cultural behaviors observed in specific orca populations, such as positioning dead fish on their heads.
Implications of the Wild Sighting
The observation of tongue-nibbling in free-ranging orcas is significant because it confirms that this behavior is not solely an artifact of captivity. It indicates that the behavior is part of the natural repertoire of orcas across different populations.
Researchers like Almunia argue that this continuity of behavior between wild and captive orcas supports the value of behavioral studies in zoological settings for providing insights into the ethology, or natural behavior, of wild populations. However, this view is not universally accepted. Some researchers, like Rendall, argue that a single observation doesn’t provide sufficient data to draw broad conclusions, particularly regarding the justification of orca captivity.
What’s Next
While this single observation doesn’t definitively explain the function of orca tongue-nibbling, it marks a crucial step in understanding the complexity of their social interactions in the wild. Further research and more sightings of this rare behavior are needed to determine its precise role in orca communication and social structure.
To learn more about orca behavior and marine life, explore these related stories:
- Salmon-hat wearing orcas also give each other massages with kelp, scientists discover
- ‘Incredible and rare’ sight as endangered whale attacked by 60 orcas in brutal hunt
- Grieving orca mom carries dead calf around on her head for a 2nd time
