Humpback Whale: Megaptera novaeangliae

This chapter discusses the characteristics, taxonomy, distribution, abundance, and ecology of the humpback whale or Megaptera novaeangliae. The humpback whale is one of the best known and easily recognizable of the large whales. It is known for its frequent acrobatic behavior and its occasional tendency to approach vessels. At close range, humpback whales are easily distinguished from any other large whale by their remarkably long flippers, which are approximately one-third the length of the body. The flippers are ventrally white and can be either white or black dorsally depending on the population and the individual; the flippers of North Atlantic humpbacks tend to be white, while those in the North Pacific are usually black. Humpback whales are found in all oceans of the world. They are a highly migratory species, spending spring through fall on feeding grounds in mid- or high-latitude waters, and wintering on calving grounds in the tropics, where they do not eat. They are typically found in coastal or shelf waters in summer and close to islands or reef systems in winter. The humpback whale is heavily exploited by the whaling industry for several centuries. Because of its coastal distribution, it is often the first species to be hunted in a newly discovered area. As a result, the humpback is considered as an endangered species.