Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 26,528
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual and is the only species in the genus Megaptera. Adults range in length from 14–17 m (46–56 ft) and weigh up to 40 metric tons. The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and tubercles on its head. It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, making it popular with whale watchers. Males produce a complex song that typically lasts from 4 to 33 minutes.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Humpback whale”.