Editing Cetacean surfacing behaviour (section)

=== Spyhopping ===<!-- This section is linked from [[Great white shark]] and [[Bowhead whale]] -->
<gallery widths="190" heights="180">
File:Type C Orcas.jpg|Orca ("type C") spyhopping
File:Humpback Megaptera novaeangliae.jpg|[[Southern minke whale]] spyhopping in Antarctica
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When ''spyhopping'', the whale rises and holds a vertical position partially out of the water, often exposing its entire [[rostrum (anatomy)|rostrum]] and head. It is visually akin to a human [[treading water]]. Spyhopping is controlled and slow, and can last for minutes at a time if the whale is sufficiently inquisitive about whatever it is viewing. Generally, the whale does not appear to swim by fluke propulsion to maintain its "elevated" position while spyhopping, instead relying on exceptional buoyancy control and positioning with pectoral fins. Typically the whale's eyes will be slightly above or below the surface of the water, enabling it to see whatever is nearby on the surface.<ref name="NG">{{Citation|url=http://education.nationalgeographic.com.au/education/media/spyhopping/?ar_a=1|publisher=National Geographic|title=Gray Whale Spyhop|access-date=2015-05-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525151508/http://education.nationalgeographic.com.au/education/media/spyhopping/?ar_a=1|archive-date=2015-05-25}}</ref> Different species of sharks, including the [[great white shark]] and [[oceanic whitetip shark]], have also been known to spyhop.<ref name="MarcBaldwin">{{cite web |url=https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/animals/article/elasmobranch-behaviour |title=Elasmobranch Behaviour |last=Baldwin |first=Marc |website=Wildlife Online |access-date=August 7, 2020}}<!--Webpage itself cites a book and journal article detailing both species' spy-hopping behavior--></ref><ref name="SarahKeartes">{{cite web |url=https://www.earthtouchnews.com/oceans/sharks/what-is-the-shark-steps-on-lego-shark-actually-doing/ |title=What is the shark-steps-on-Lego shark actually doing? |last=Keartes |first=Sarah |date=October 5, 2016 |website=[[Earth-Touch|Earth Touch News]] |access-date=August 7, 2020}}<!--Fairly reputable nature news source--></ref>

Spyhopping often occurs during a "mugging" situation, where the focus of a whale's attention is on a boat, such as whale-watching tours, which they sometimes approach and interact with.<ref>{{Citation|title=Behavioral response of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) to vessel traffic|year=2003|journal=Marine Environmental Research|first1=S. L.|last1=Ng|first2=S.|last2=Leung|volume=56|issue=5|pages=555–567|doi=10.1016/S0141-1136(03)00041-2|pmid=12927738|bibcode=2003MarER..56..555N }}</ref> On the other hand, spyhopping among [[orca]]s is thought to aid predation, as they are often seen around ice floes attempting to view [[predation|prey]] species such as seals that are resting on the floes.<ref name="Pitman2012">{{Citation|title=Cooperative hunting behavior, prey selectivity and prey handling by pack ice killer whales (Orcinus orca), type B, in Antarctic Peninsula waters|journal=Marine Mammal Science|first1=R. L.|last1=Pitman|first2=J. W.|last2=Durban|year=2012|volume=28|issue=1|pages=16–36|doi=10.1111/j.1748-7692.2010.00453.x|bibcode=2012MMamS..28...16P |url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1305&context=usdeptcommercepub|url-access=subscription}}</ref> When prey is detected the individual will conduct a series of spy-hops from different locations around it, then vocalise to the group members to do the same to possibly prepare for an attack.<ref name="Pitman2012" /> In this instance a spyhop may be more useful than a breach, because the view is held steady for a longer period of time. Often when cetaceans breach, their eyes do not clear the water, which suggests it might not be used for looking but instead for hearing. For example, [[gray whale]]s will often spy-hop in order to hear better when they are near the line where waves begin to break in the ocean as this marks out their migration route.<ref name="NG" />