The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) belongs
to the order Cetacea and the family Balaenopteridae. Able to reach a length of
52 feet and weigh 80,000 pounds, the humpback whale is a migrating marine
mammal and is found in waters around the globe.
Humpback whales only eat during the summer months and spend
the winter months breeding and fasting. They eat small fish and krill and
consumer their food in a variety of ways. The humpback has a distinctive hump, large
fins and are almost black in color. The pectoral fins of each individual whale
are different which makes it easier for scientists and whale watchers to track
the different members of a group.
In the past, the number of humpback whales decreased rapidly
around the globe due to over hunting for their meat. In the 1960s, a whale
hunting ban took place and the number of humpback whales in the wild increased.
The humpback whale has a very long life span with studies
indicating ages from 60 to 200 years. The female of the species only breeds
every three years or so and is pregnant for almost a year before giving birth
to a single offspring.