Common Name:
Humpback whale
Scientific Name:
Megaptera novaeangliae
Unique Qualities:
The most unique quality of the humpback whales is their "singing." Scientists have discovered that humpback whales sing long, complex "songs." A typical song lasts from 10-20 minutes, is repeated continuously for hours at a time, and changes gradually from year to year. It appears that only the males do the singing and it may be a part of their mating behavior. Humpback whales are also unique from other whales by their really long flippers which can be more than 4.5 m long.
Can be Seen:
Humpback whales can be found in oceans around the world.
Likes to Hang Out:
Most populations of humpback whales follow a regular migration route by summering in temperate and polar waters for feeding and wintering in tropical waters for mating and calving (giving birth to babies).
Likes to Eat:
Humpback whales love to eat krill (shrimp-like crustaceans) and small fishes like herring and mackerel. A humpback consumes between 900 and 4,000 kg of fish and krill a day.
Status:
The humpback whale is currently listed as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Humpbacks were nearly hunted to extinction until the practice was banned in 1966. Current threats include oil spills, fishing nets, and the depletion of capelin stocks, a main food source.
