Fishin' for Facts: Humpback Whale
Common name:
Humpback whale
 | Size |
A humpback whale can reach maximum lengths up to 50 feet (15 m) and can weigh up to 48 tons. A calf may be 4-5 meters long - that's up to 16 feet long at birth.
| Baleen |
Depending on its size a humpback whale can have between 270 and 400 baleen plates. The plates can be as long as 80 to 85 cm (31.5 to 33.5 in.) and 15 cm (6 in.) wide.
| What do they eat? |
A humpback whale eats krill and small schooling fish.
| What a body! |
It is easy to recognize a humpback whale because of its tremendously long flippers. The flippers can be one-third to one-fourth the length of they whale's body. The flipper can be as long as 5 meters (16.4 ft.) They have a small dorsal fin about 2/3's of the way back toward the tail.
| Where do they live? |
Humpback whales are found all over the world. Like other baleen whales from migrate to warmer waters during the winter and summer in the polar regions.
| Humpback Whale Highlights |
Male humpback whales are also known for their singing. In Hawaii for example, they can be herd vocalizing during breeding season. Humpbacks are listed as: CITES lists humpback whales as "Threatened" (Appendix 1) and the IUCN lists them as "Vulnerable."
Photos courtesy of Southwest Fisheries Science Center/
NOAA Fisheries Service
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