![]() An average-sized humpback whale will eat 4,400-5,500 pounds (2000-2500 kg) of plankton, krill and small, schooling fish each day during the feeding season in cold waters (about 120 days). Concentrated masses of prey are preferable for this method of feeding. They are gulpers (not skimmers), filter feeders that alternatively swim then gulp a mouthful of plankton or fish. Humpback whales (like all baleen whales) are seasonal feeders and carnivores that filter feed tiny crustaceans ( krill - mainly Euphausia superba, copepods, etc.), plankton, and small fish (including herring, mackerel, capelin, and sandeel) from the water. Humpbacks have a small dorsal fin toward the flukes. The deeply-notched flukes (tail) are up to 12 feet (3.7 m) wide. The flippers may have barnacles growing on them. The humpback's genus, Megaptera, means "huge-wings," referring to its flippers. Humpbacks have huge, mottled white flippers with rough edges that are up to one-third of its body length these are the largest flippers of any whale. They have small, round bumps on the front of the head (called knobs or tubercles), edging the jaws. These grooves allow their throat to expand during the huge intake of water during filter feeding. Humpback whales have 14-35 throat grooves that run from the chin to the navel. The humpback's skin is frequently scarred and may have patches covered with barnacles. These markings are unique to each individual whale, like a fingerprint. There are distinctive patches of white on underside of the flukes (tail). ![]() Humpbacks come in 4 different color schemes, ranging from white to gray to black to mottled. The four-chambered heart of the average humpback whale weighs about 430 pounds (195 kg) - about as much as three average adult human beings. The females are slightly larger than males, as with all baleen whales. Humpback whales grow to be about 52 feet (16 m) long, weighing 30-50 tons (27-45 tonnes). The name humpback describes the motion it makes as it arches its back out of the water in preparation for a dive. Humpbacks are acrobats of the ocean, breaching and slapping the water. The humpback has a bulky head with bumpy protuberances (tubercles), each with a bristle. It performs complex and cooperative feeding techniques. The humpback whale is a baleen whale and a rorqual whale that sings amazing songs. is a user-supported site.Īs a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages.
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