Humpback Whale [Megaptera novaeangliae]
Description
The Humpback Whale is a species of baleen whale characterized by its long, knobbly pectoral fins and pronounced hump. It usually measures between 12 to 16 meters in length and weighs approximately 36,000 kilograms. Humpbacks are known for their complex songs, which can last for up to 20 minutes and be heard over great distances in the ocean. They typically inhabit open oceans and seas, migrating annually from summer feeding grounds near the poles to warmer winter breeding waters. They feed primarily on krill and small fishes. Distinguishing features include a head with numerous bumps, each containing a hair, and a fluked tail that usually lifts above the surface before a deep dive.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Mammals
Mammalia
|
| Order |
Cetaceans
Cetacea
|
| Family |
Rorquals
Balaenopteridae
|
| Genus |
Humpback Whale
Megaptera
|