Melon Messages

A bump on your head might be painful, but the large mass on a beluga whale’s forehead—the melon (yes, that is the technical name)—helps it transmit sounds for echolocation. During a recent study, researchers discovered that the bulge might also be used to form expressions.

While studying four belugas at Connecticut’s Mystic Aquarium, researchers noticed the whales form five distinct expressions: flat, lift, press, push, and shake. While they’re not sure exactly what the expressions mean, the researchers believe a “melon shake” might be a way males communicate with females during courtship and a “melon push” might be a sign of aggression.

Though scientists still have a lot to learn about these melon messages, this study shows that we’re constantly discovering new and wonderful things about creation. And while God’s creatures might not necessarily wear their hearts on their sleeves—or foreheads—he did design each of them with unique ways of communicating with one another.

This article is from Answers magazine, October–December, 2024, p. 18.