Wildlife
Humpback whales migrate seasonally from the tropics to their northern feeding grounds, and during the summer months they must feed intensely in preparation for this migration. They hunt cooperatively using the ‘bubble net’ strategy where several whales circle underwater emitting a stream of bubbles, which trap fish within an air ring, the whales can then gorge on the contents of their ‘net’. These magnificent whales are renowned for their acrobatic aerial breaching, and their beautiful yet complex songs, performed by males during courtship.
Did you know?
Humpback whales have five metre long flippers that are almost one third of their body length.
Scientific name: Megaptera novaeangliae
Rank: Species
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Bottom of the food chain
There are 300 million tonnes of krill in the Southern Ocean.
There are 300 million tonnes of krill in the Southern Ocean.
Rich polar waters
Seabirds and whales take advantage of the cold water feast.
Seabirds and whales take advantage of the cold water feast.
Unusual catch
Scientist Ingrid Visser and team rescue a Humpback whale caught in a fish net.
Scientist Ingrid Visser runs the New Zealand Orca Hotline - taking phone calls from the public when they see killer whales off the coast. However she also helps when other cetaceans are in distress.
Humpback opera
The enigmatic songs of whales travel across oceans.
The enigmatic songs of whales travel across oceans.
Humpbacks fishing
Whales co-operate to trap tonnes of fish in a bubble net.
Whales co-operate to trap tonnes of fish in a bubble net.
The Humpback whale can be found in a number of locations including: Great Barrier Reef, Mediterranean. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Humpback whale distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Population trend: Increasing
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 metres (39–52 ft) and weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms (79,000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the water. Males produce a complex song, which lasts for 10 to 20 minutes and is repeated for hours at a time. The purpose of the song is not yet clear, although it appears to have a role in mating.
Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 25,000 kilometres (16,000 mi) each year. Humpbacks feed only in summer, in polar waters, and migrate to tropical or sub-tropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter. During the winter, humpbacks fast and live off their fat reserves. The species' diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. Humpbacks have a diverse repertoire of feeding methods, including the bubble net feeding technique.
Like other large whales, the humpback was and is a target for the whaling industry. Due to over-hunting, its population fell by an estimated 90% before a whaling moratorium was introduced in 1966. Stocks have since partially recovered; however, entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and noise pollution also remain concerns. There are at least 80,000 humpback whales worldwide. Once hunted to the brink of extinction, humpbacks are now sought by whale-watchers, particularly off parts of Australia, New Zealand, South America, Canada, and the United States.
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Migration
Adapted to swimming
Carnivorous
Courtship display
Acoustic communication
Maternal care
Polygynous
Active at birth
Social
Visual communication
Viviparous
Echolocation and ultrasound