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Humpback whale
(Megaptera novaeangliae)
| Fact title | Fact data |
|---|---|
| Weight |
36,000 kg
|
| Length |
18 m
|
| Diet |
Krill, plankton and small fish such as anchovies and sardines
|
Humpback whales are a favourite for whale watchers, as they frequently perform aerial displays, such as breaching or slapping the surface with their pectoral fins, tails, or heads. They travel great distances during their seasonal migration, the farthest of any mammal. The longest recorded migration was 5,160 miles (8,300 km).
The longest recorded migration was 5,160 miles (8,300 km).
Distribution:
They're found in all major oceans from the equator to sub-polar latitudes.
Journey to Alaska:
They usually migrate here from their breeding grounds off Costa Rica and Mexico. But this year, for the first time ever, some humpbacks have spent winter in California.
You may not know...
Only the male sings.
