Humpback whales are unmistakable baleen whales that reach around 17 metres in length. They are named for the pronounced hump on their back and long pectoral fins—sometimes nearly a third of body length—that they use with surprising agility at the surface. Divers encounter them during migration routes and breeding grounds in tropical and polar waters; they are famous for breaching, spy-hopping, and singing complex songs. These whales feed on krill and small fish in cold waters before migrating to warmer areas to breed and calve.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Cetartiodactyla
- Family
- Balaenopteridae
- Genus
- Megaptera
Most likely to be seen at
Sites where its range and habitat make it likely — not yet confirmed by a logged sighting.