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Humpback whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Photo by Elsa
Published on Project Noah
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42.2502, -70.2494

Field Notes

Description:

The humpback whale is a medium sized baleen whale that is found across our global oceans. Until 1966, when an international moratorium was put in place they were hunted close to extinction.

The humpback whales are fairly easily recognisable by their long, white pectoral flippers that when seen from above the surface appear turquiose and by the knobs on the front of their head surrounding their jaw.

Habitat:

Global oceans - seasonal distribution as these animals migrate from the northern to southern oceans.

Notes:

These whales were spotted in the Stellwagen Bank Marine sanctuary found outside the coast of Massachussetts.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (19)
Elsa
Hi Chris :) was pretty awesome yes!
Chris Carille
Pretty cool! Really neat to see it close-up I'd imagine
Elsa
Thanks Marta. They really are amazing animals :)
Elsa
Thank you very much! :)
Elsa
Very sad.. Glad she survived and was well enough to have a calf! Thanks for the info :) When you mention it the name rings a bell - the crew onboard our whale watching boat did tell us the names but I can't remember.
galewhale..Gale
The last whale in your series is a whale named Fulcrum... she has suffered horrible injuries from a boat strike but keeps on keeping on! Mhouston took this photo: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1615054303715&set=a.1615049823603.88607.1457054883&type=1&theater
Elsa
Pretty awesome they've known individuals back until 1976 by the way!! Maybe I can recognise a name from a fluke pic?
Elsa
Yep, amazing, they had names for each individual recognised by their fluke patterns and shapes. I could always add a deep-dive photo if I can dig up a decent one :) Ops, just noticed I've written fluke in info when I meant pectoral flipper. We saw them feed once (photo nr. 1 and 3) making the typical bubble trap which was pretty awesome to watch live. You could tell it was small fish they were after this time as the fish were desperately trying to escape the gape - being caught by seabirds instead.
galewhale..Gale
Good photo of the baleen, the plates (made of the same material as out fingernails) that allow them to filter feed on tiny plankton, shrimp and sand lance. Did you see any of the whales dive and show their flukes? You probably know when they dive deeply they show the bottom of their tails which can be used to identify individuals... each has a very distinct pattern. Check out Allied whale: they hold the catalog... some whales have been known since 1976!! http://www.coa.edu/html/nahc.htm
Elsa
I've dug in the archives and added some more photos to the spotting showing mom with calf, birds feeding on fish jumping out of a whales mouth and one that shows the amount of birds that follow these whales when feeding.
Elsa
Thanks Deshu! AshishNimkar - I felt lucky to see them feeding!
Ashish
I think tail part is also important to identify fishes.
Ashish
For whales..we need big patience and luck..!!
Elsa
Thanks alot both of you :) Pretty amazing animal!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
2011 Best Wildlife Photo
Mission
Marine Mammals of the World
Photographed
PublishedMay 8, 2011

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