Interesting facts
Humpback whales travel for great distances through the world's oceans. They are the noisiest of all the whales and are known for their amazing 'songs' that they produce underwater. These songs are made of different sounds including moans, cries, howls, squeaks and gurgles. Some experts believe humpbacks sing to protect their territory or to communicate with others.
Humpback whales travel in pods of 2 - 15 individuals.
Adults range in length from 12–16 metres and weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms. They have long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. Females are a bit larger in length.
Humpbacks are strong swimmers and are known for their acrobatic behaviour. They can often be seen breaching, leaping and flipper-slapping on the surface of the water.
Scientists aren't sure why they do this but it could be a way of cleaning pests from their skin or simply a way of having fun!
Did you know?
- Humpbacks get their name from the way they arch their back before diving.
- The tail of a humpback can be a whopping 18 feet wide.
- The biggest threats to humpback whales are entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships.
- The humpback whale is listed as endangered.
- Calves do not stop growing until they are ten years old.
