Menu Close

What type of organism is a humpback whale?

What type of organism is a humpback whale?

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. It is one of the larger rorqual species, with adults ranging in length from 12–16 m (39–52 ft) and weighing around 25–30 t (28–33 short tons).

What are 5 facts about humpback whales?

Fun Facts About Humpback Whales

  • Humpback whales grow up to 60 feet (18.3 m) long and 80,000 pounds (36.3 metric tons).
  • Humpback whales can live for 80 to 90 years.
  • Humpback whales have some of the longest migrations of any mammal with some populations swimming 5,000 miles (8,047 km) between breeding and feeding grounds.

What is a interesting fact about humpback whales?

Humpbacks can grow to 60 feet (18 meters) long, and they can weigh a whopping 40 tons (about half the size of a blue whale), according to the NOAA. Their flippers can grow up to 16 feet (5 m) long, which is the largest appendage in the world. Their tails are also massive and grow up to 18 feet (5.5 m) wide.

How do we know if an organism is a humpback whale?

Although their general shape resembles that of a fish, humpback whales are mammals just like humans, and exhibit a number of traits common to all mammals including the following: they are warm blooded. they breathe air. they bear live young and nurse them with milk.

Are humpback whales facts?

When travelling, Humpback Whales move at about 5 to 15 km per hour. During feeding, they’ll slow to 2 to 5.5 km/h. When they want to really move they can speed up to about 25 km/h.

How long can humpback whales hold their breath?

Humpbacks Must Remember to Breathe However, while we breathe automatically, humpback whales breathe voluntarily. And while their lengthy dive time (the average whale can hold its breath underwater for about 60 minutes) might suggest that whales can breathe underwater, this is not true.

How much does a humpback whale weigh?

The humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 m (39–52 ft) and weigh around 25–30 metric tons (28–33 short tons). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head.

How do humpback whales mate?

Humpback whales utilize a polygynous mating system, with males competing aggressively to mate with estrous females. Breeding season takes place during the winter months when individuals inhabit tropical waters. Females have an 11.5 month gestation period and give birth to a single calf every one to three years.

Is humpback whale dangerous?

They are regarded as one of the world’s top three most dangerous shark species, second only to great white sharks for the recorded number of bites to humans. This is not the first documented case of humpback whales showing altruistic and protective behaviour towards other species.

What is the height of a humpback whale?

The typical Humpback Whale has an overall height of 8′-9’8″ (2.44-2.97 m) and body length of 43′-52′ (13-16 m). An average Humpback Whale weighs between 27.5-33 tons (25-30 metric tons) and has a typical lifespan of 45-100 years. What do whales eat?