Humpback whale map Megaptera novaeangliae Least concern
Where the humpback whale lives: an interactive map of recorded sightings worldwide.
Approximate range, based on recorded sightings. Shapes are drawn by World Animal Map from 16,473 wild occurrence records on GBIF (CC0/CC BY 4.0; captive and fossil records excluded, isolated outliers removed), grouped into 2° grid cells and clipped to the sea. They show where the animal has been recorded, not an official range; gaps can simply mean no open data. Method · Records on GBIF
| Scientific name | Megaptera novaeangliae |
|---|---|
| Status | Least concern (Wikidata, IUCN category label) |
| Mapped range layers | 1 |
| Records used | 16,473 wild occurrence records (GBIF, CC0/CC BY) |
| Group | Whales & dolphins |
Interesting facts
- The species has been recorded traveling up to 8,000 km (5,000 mi) in one direction. [source]
- Males may alter their songs over time, and others in contact with them copy these changes. [source]
- The powerful flippers of humpback whales, often infested with large, sharp Coronula barnacles, are formidable weapons against orcas. [source]
About the humpback whale
The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual (a member of the family Balaenopteridae) 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 (44 short 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.
Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate between feeding areas towards the poles and breeding areas near the equator. Their diet consists mostly of krill and small fish, and they usually use bubbles to catch prey. They are polygynandrous breeders, with both sexes having multiple partners. Males will follow females and fight off rivals. Mothers give birth to calves in shallower water. Orcas are the main natural predators of humpback whales. The bodies of humpbacks host barnacles and whale lice.
Photos
Text in “About”, “Interesting facts” and “Population” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Humpback whale (revision 1380210410), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: sentences excerpted verbatim, citations and formatting removed. No text added. Taxa and status: Wikidata Q132905 (CC0).
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