A ‘sea monster’ depicted in the 1585 map of Iceland may exemplify spy-hopping behaviour in cetaceans

Abstract

While there is a long history of misidentifying whales as sea monsters, historical maps and anecdotes can provide early depictions and descriptions of cetacean biology. For example, the map of ‘Islandia’ [Iceland] reproduced by Abraham Ortelius (1527–1598) in numerous printings of his atlas Theatrum orbis terrarum has an array of sea monsters, including the ‘Staukul’, that was said to stand upright out of the water for extended periods. This may be the earliest portrayal of spy-hopping, a common behaviour in which whales elevate themselves above the water to observe their surroundings.