Family: Balaenopteriade
Habitat: Polar to tropical seas. Along the coasts when migrating.
Geographical spread: All major oceans of the world.
Current population: N/A
Status: The IUCN considers the Humpback to be endangered.
Size: Head to tail length 16m, flipper length up to 5m.
Weight: 5 tonnes.
Average life expectancy: 95 years.
Normal diet: Krill and other planktonic organisms that it sieves through its baleen plates.
Normal lifestyle: Like Blue whales, Humpbacks migrate from polar regions to subtropical waters for the winter breeding season. The strongest bond is between mother and calf and females form the nucleus of any group formation that develops while on these grounds. Males arrive first and start singing in shallow coastal waters, probably to attract mates. Females attract a principal male escort, but others try to oust him by tail-thrashing, lunging and creating air bubbles. A female attracts 1-6 male s and the principal escort may change daily or seasonally.
Reasons for decline: Similar to Blue whale, principally whale-hunting, although it is no longer being hunted.
Current threats: Pollution, including noise from sonic booms that disorientates them.
Conservation projects: The Humpback occupies a similar range to the Blue and thus should be protected by the Southem and Indian Ocean sanctuaries.
File last modified Thursday, October 3, 1996