Length

49-52 ft (Female)

43-46 ft (Male)

Weight

up to 66,000 lbs

Population

There are 14 distinct populations of Humpback whales. Within this, there has been found to be around 30,000-40,000 whales left.

Distribution

Humpback whales have a very wide distribution, traveling far and wide every year. The typical migration consists of traveling to colder feeding grounds during the summer and making their way to warm tropical waters during the winter to start their breeding. 

Description

The Humpback whale is part of the baleen whale family as one of the rorqual species, alongside the blue, fin, byrde’s, sei, and minke whales. Their scientific name is Megaptera novaeangliae. They are distinguished by their immense body consisting of an obvious hump. Their dorsal coloring is a black color, while their stomachs and the undersides of their tail flukes are white. Their elongated flukes are the most distinctive characteristic to individual whales, reaching almost 18 ft while each having unique patterns, shapes, sizes, and scars.

Being a whale watching favorite, Humpback whales stay close to shore and love to put on a show by breaching. Humpback whales consume about 3,000 pounds of food each day by filter-feeding on small crustaceans and small fish. Once being hunted to the point of extinction, Humpback whales have made a miraculous recovery.