![]() Females are slightly larger at 15–16 m (49–52 ft) one large recorded specimen was 19 m (62 ft) long and had pectoral fins measuring 6 m (20 ft) each. This visually distinguishes males and females. The male's penis usually remains hidden in the genital slit.įully grown males average 13–14 m (43–46 ft). The female has a hemispherical lobe about 15 cm (5.9 in) in diameter in her genital region. These grooves are less numerous (usually 14–22) than in other rorquals, but are fairly wide. Ventral grooves run from the lower jaw to the umbilicus about halfway along the underside of the whale. Humpbacks have 270 to 400 darkly colored baleen plates on each side of their mouths. The plates measure from 18 in (46 cm) in the front to about 3 ft (0.91 m) in the back, behind the hinge. The fluked tail, which it typically lifts above the surface when diving, has wavy trailing edges. The head and lower jaw are covered with knobs called tubercles, which are hair follicles, and are characteristic of the species. While stocks have partially recovered, entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and noise pollution continue to impact the population of 80,000.Ī humpback whale can easily be identified by its stocky body, obvious hump, black dorsal coloring, and elongated pectoral fins. Once hunted to the brink of extinction, its population fell by an estimated 90% before a 1966 moratorium. ![]() Like other large whales, the humpback was a target for the whaling industry. Humpbacks have a diverse repertoire of feeding methods, including the bubble net technique. Their diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. Humpbacks feed only in summer, in polar waters, and migrate to tropical or subtropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter when they fast and live off their fat reserves. Its purpose is not clear, though it may have a role in mating.įound in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 25,000 km (16,000 mi) each year. Males produce a complex song lasting 10 to 20 minutes, which they repeat for hours at a time. It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, making it popular with whale watchers. The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. ![]() One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 m (39–52 ft) and weigh about 36,000 kg (79,000 lb). The humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale.
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