Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale Latest News

Recently, a stranded humpback whale managed to swim free in the Baltic Sea.

About Humpback Whale

• The Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale.
• It is a rorqual; a member of the family Balaenopteridae.
• Migration: They undertake long migrations between polar feeding grounds in summer and tropical or subtropical breeding grounds in winter. 
• Appearance
  • It has the distinctive hump on its back.
  • Its long pectoral fins inspired its scientific name, Megaptera, which means “big-winged” 
  • Humpback females are larger than males.
• Distribution: They inhabit all major oceans from sub-polar latitudes to the equator
• Behavior: Humpbacks use a unique method of feeding called bubble netting, in which bubbles are exhaled as the whale swims in a spiral below a patch of water dense with food.
• Diet: They filter their food through baleen plates. They strain krill, anchovies, cod, sardines, mackerel, capelin, and other schooling fish from the waters.
• Lifespan & Reproduction: Humpback whales reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 10 years. Females produce a single calf every 2 to 3 years on average.
• Conservation status:

• • IUCN: Least concern.

Source: TOI

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