humpback whale
By: Sydney Beckham
Humpback Whale Introduction
Humpback whales are massive omnivores who can weigh up to about 40 tons. They are mammals that live in water, near coastlines, and propel themselves through the water using their fluke (big fin). Humpback, although huge, love to snack on small fish such as shrimp and plankton.
Humpback Song
These whales are special because they sing/ cry a loud noise which can last hours. This loud cry can be used to communicate with others or to find a mate.The songs of the whales usually sound somewhat similar. These noises are believe to be "groans and barks" for whales. Male whales "sing" their song during mating season in order to find females and impress them with their strong sounds
Different Whale Movements
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This is the size of a human compared to a humpback whale
Fun Fact: Humpback whales are about ten times the size of an average human.
Travel, body shape, and size
Humpback whales usually travel in groups called pods. You will normally find the mother of a calve traveling very close to her baby. These calves will continue to grow until they reach the age of ten. Just like a fingerprint, the Humpbacks all have their own, unique white spots. The whale's skin may also contain barnacles and scratches up and down its fin. Humpbacks are usually around 52 feet long and their heart usually weighs around 430 pounds.
Humpback Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Anamalia, Phylum:Chordata, Class: Mammalia, Order: Cetacea, Family: Balaenopteridae, Genus: Megaptera, Species: novaeangliae
Whale Song
Humpback Threats
Humpbacks are threatened by the following: fish gear that they may get tangled in, "whale watch harassment", and problems with habitat. In order to conserve Humpbacks, the US has begun to monitor the whales, to tell boat drivers about the dangers of hurting whales, and reduce the number of fish traps and nets.