Species of the Day The Humpbacked Whale Megaptera novaeangliae The Humpbacked Whale Megaptera novaeangliae
Ecology Females - 16 meters long, males - 15 meters long. Usually found alone or in groups of 2-3. May congregate in groups of when feeding. 12 month gestation period. Not fast swimmers (6-12 km/hour) but can breach when they want to. Dive for up to 20 minutes.
Feeding and Diet Feed on krill and small schooling fish Mackerel Eel elvers Bubble net feeding Will circle a school from below releasing bubbles as they slowly rise. Fish trapped in the bubbles. Done alone or in small groups Feed on krill and small schooling fish Mackerel Eel elvers Bubble net feeding Will circle a school from below releasing bubbles as they slowly rise. Fish trapped in the bubbles. Done alone or in small groups
Endangered Status In southern oceans 100,000 in the 1900s - only 2500 today. In northern Pacific ocean 15,000 in 1900s - only 1000 today. 2000 in western North Atlantic Still taken by whalers from Greenland. In southern oceans 100,000 in the 1900s - only 2500 today. In northern Pacific ocean 15,000 in 1900s - only 1000 today. 2000 in western North Atlantic Still taken by whalers from Greenland.
Bibliography Leatherwood, Stephen & Randall R. Reeves The Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins. Sierra Club books, San Francisco. /they%20swim/humpback%20whale/Humpba ck%20Whale% jpg /they%20swim/humpback%20whale/Humpba ck%20Whale% jpg ons/thumb/6/61/Humpback_Whale_underwat er_shot.jpg/270px- Humpback_Whale_underwater_shot.jpg Leatherwood, Stephen & Randall R. Reeves The Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins. Sierra Club books, San Francisco. /they%20swim/humpback%20whale/Humpba ck%20Whale% jpg /they%20swim/humpback%20whale/Humpba ck%20Whale% jpg ons/thumb/6/61/Humpback_Whale_underwat er_shot.jpg/270px- Humpback_Whale_underwater_shot.jpg