Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
spyhop
verb
/ˈspaɪˌhɒp/
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Definition
A behavior exhibited by some marine mammals, particularly whales, where they rise partially out of the water and observe their surroundings.
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Examples
- The whale performed a spyhop to scan the horizon for signs of other sea creatures.
- During the boat tour, we were lucky to see a spyhopping seal inquisitively checking us out.
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Meaning
Spyhopping allows marine mammals to check for potential threats or find food while minimizing their visibility to predators.
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Synonyms
- pop-up
- peek
- gaze