@Of-Ants-and-Imps saidThey have some kind of suction cup in front and my guess is when they are running through the water thanks to the whale they are collecting food for free.
Free space on the back of head, who knows what her progeny will make of it. Spines that go thru adaptation and conserve? Scientists seemed to underestimate their swimming capability, so it could be the same for navigation or migratory complexity.
@Of-Ants-and-Imps saidUnder their 'chins'. It would be interesting to have seen the entire evolution of such a trait, how the very early versions tried to stick and losing but each generation following having slightly stronger suction and so forth.
I viewed at first and thought they were under the lip, but a panel is on top doing the "cupping," next to their fins.
@Of-Ants-and-Imps saidMy guess is they evolved from fish like catfish, bottom eaters and maybe developed suckers over thousands of years of evolution.
Seems like a precipitated adaptation.