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Big boys, bigger gals
Big boys, bigger gals
Adult humpbacks are between 46 - 56 ft/14 - 17 m long and weigh up to 88,000 lbs/40,000kgs. Females tend to be 3 - 5 ft/1-1.5m longer than males.
Adult humpbacks are between 46 - 56 ft/14 - 17 m long and weigh up to 88,000 lbs/40,000kgs. Females tend to be 3 - 5 ft/1-1.5m longer than males.
That amount of weight gives them a bulky body that thins out at the rostrum or snout area. Those long flippers can be up to one third of their body length.
That amount of weight gives them a bulky body that thins out at the rostrum or snout area. Those long flippers can be up to one third of their body length.
With dark dorsal (back) areas and light belly or ventral areas they can blend into the dark sea from above or the light sky from below. These big boys (and even bigger gals) have comparatively small dorsal fins on their backs.
With dark dorsal (back) areas and light belly or ventral areas they can blend into the dark sea from above or the light sky from below. These big boys (and even bigger gals) have comparatively small dorsal fins on their backs.
It's a zoo(plankton) out there
It's a zoo(plankton) out there
Humpback whales are baleen whales which means they have baleen! I know, crazy. It helps them filter feed.
Humpback whales are baleen whales which means they have baleen! I know, crazy. It helps them filter feed.
They eat both plankton - organisms that float around in the water - and small fish. Between phytoplankton, which are plant-like, and zooplankton, which is animal-like, they'll go for the zooplankton every time.
They eat both plankton - organisms that float around in the water - and small fish. Between phytoplankton, which are plant-like, and zooplankton, which is animal-like, they'll go for the zooplankton every time.
Humpbacks take in huge gulps of seawater and then press it out of their mouths through their baleen which are bristles that hang down from the roof of their mouths made of keratin, the same thing as our fingernails and hair. The baleen allows the water out but keeps in all the yummy goodies for the whales to eat.
Humpbacks take in huge gulps of seawater and then press it out of their mouths through their baleen which are bristles that hang down from the roof of their mouths made of keratin, the same thing as our fingernails and hair. The baleen allows the water out but keeps in all the yummy goodies for the whales to eat.
Humpbacks have grooves in the skin in front of their throat that stretch out like an accordion when they're taking in gulps of water so they can fit more in.
Humpbacks have grooves in the skin in front of their throat that stretch out like an accordion when they're taking in gulps of water so they can fit more in.
More water, more food!
More water, more food!
Jump around
Jump around
A very active whale, there are lots of fun humpback behaviours to see.
A very active whale, there are lots of fun humpback behaviours to see.
One of our favourites is breaching, where they throw part or all of their body out of the water. They do this to communicate with each other, remove parasites and just have fun (if I could do it I'd do it all the time).
One of our favourites is breaching, where they throw part or all of their body out of the water. They do this to communicate with each other, remove parasites and just have fun (if I could do it I'd do it all the time).
Other behaviours we might see are slapping the surface of the water with their tail or flippers and peduncle throws which is throwing their tail and hind region out of the water.
Other behaviours we might see are slapping the surface of the water with their tail or flippers and peduncle throws which is throwing their tail and hind region out of the water.
Humpbacks also migrate a long way, up to 5000mi/8000km in one direction. They breed in the warmer waters near the equator during winter and then migrate to cooler water in the winter months to feed.
Humpbacks also migrate a long way, up to 5000mi/8000km in one direction. They breed in the warmer waters near the equator during winter and then migrate to cooler water in the winter months to feed.
During migration and breeding they don't eat so it's important to fill up during feeding season. They put on an extra 20-30% of their bodyweight and live on that as they travel.
During migration and breeding they don't eat so it's important to fill up during feeding season. They put on an extra 20-30% of their bodyweight and live on that as they travel.
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