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| SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON NAME: |
humpback whale |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Cetacea |
| FAMILY: |
Balaenopteridae (the rorquals) |
| GENUS SPECIES: |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The body of a humpback whale is black above and white or mottled on the belly. On the head and lower jaw, there are tubercles, or rounded protuberances. There are 270 to 400 black baleen plates on each side of the jaw. Humpback whales have between 14 to 22 ventral pleats that extend to the stomach region. Humpback whales are known for their extremely long pectoral flippers that are approximately one-third the length of their body. Tail flukes are serrated, with varying patterns of black and white on the underside. |
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| SIZE: |
11 to 16 m (36.1–52.5 ft.) |
| MALE |
Males are slightly shorter than females |
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| WEIGHT: |
40,000 kg (90,000 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
Krill and small schooling fishes, mostly herring, capelin, and sandlance |
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| GESTATION: |
About 12 months |
| NURSING DURATION |
Up to 11 months |
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| SEXUAL MATURITY: |
4 to 6 years of age |
| MALE |
11.6 m (38.1 ft.) |
| FEMALE |
11.9 m (39.0 ft.) |
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| LIFE SPAN: |
At least 50 years |
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| RANGE: |
Found in all major oceans worldwide |
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| HABITAT: |
Coastal and continental shelf waters |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
At least 28,000 |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Vulnerable |
| CITES |
Appendix I |
| USFWS |
Endangered |
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| 1. |
The humpback whale is highly migratory, feeding during summer in mid to high latitudes and mating and calving during winter in tropical or subtropical waters. |
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| 2. |
Humpbacks are well known for their acrobatic behaviors, which include breaching, lobtailing, and flipper slapping. |
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| 3. |
Humpback whales sometimes blow “bubble nets” to help them gather fish. One member of a foraging group dives down, and then swims up toward the surface in a slow spiral while releasing a series of tiny bubbles from the blowholes. The bubbles form a tubular “net” confusing and trapping schooling fishes. The whales then surface in the center with their mouths open to engulf the trapped prey. |
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| 4. |
Among baleen whales, humpback whales are probably the most vocal. When in breeding grounds, mature male humpback whales produce a series of repeating units of sounds (up to 8,000 Hz) that are classified as “songs.” Experts speculate that such vocalizations—which can last up to 36 minutes—may keep males spaced apart; attract females; make it possible for whales to locate each other; or communicate information such as species, sex, location, mate status, and readiness to compete with other males for mates. Further study is necessary to determine the true function of these songs. |
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| 5. |
For more information about baleen whales, explore the BALEEN WHALES INFOBOOK. |
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Due to extensive hunting by 19th and early 20th century whalers, humpback whale populations were severely depleted. Approximately 200,000 humpbacks were killed between 1904 and 1983. Despite this, humpback whale populations seem to be recovering as strong population growth rates are reported. Humpbacks are still hunted in small number by aboriginal fisheries, and many still die from entanglement in fishing gear.
Several key laws protect baleen whales, such as humpback whales. The Convention in International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) is an international treaty developed in 1973 to regulate trade in certain wildlife species. CITES protects all species of baleen whales.
In the United States, the Marine Mammal Protection Act protects all whale species, making it illegal to hunt or harass them. |
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| Jefferson, T.J. Leatherwood, S. and M.A. Webber. FAO Species identification Guide. Marine Mammals of the World. Rome. FAO, 1993. |
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| Leatherwood, Stephen, and Reeves, Randall R. The Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1983. |
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Nowak, Ronald M. (ed.). Walker's Mammals of the World. Vol. II. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991. |
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| Parker, S. (ed.). Grizmek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. Vol. IV. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., 1990. |
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| Reeves, R. R., Stewart, B.S., Clapman, P.J., and J.A. Powell (Peter Folkens illustrator). National Audubon Society: Guide to Marine Mammals of the World. New York: Random House, 2002. |
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