Whale (Humpback) - Overview

A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching the waters off Puerto Lopez, Ecuador.
Photo 43910487 © Paul Wolf | Dreamstime.com

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Balaenopteridae

Species: Megaptera novaeangliae

IUCN Status: Least Concern

Population trend: increasing

Length: 12-15 metres, up to 16m

Weight: up to 65 tonnes

Life span: up to 50 years

Sexual Maturity: 2-5 years

Gestation: About one year. The calf when born is 5m long and weighs 2000kg

Distribution: In all the oceans of the world

Food: Mainly krill; occasionally small swarming fish and perhaps jellyfish.

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