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Fascinating Humpback Whale Facts Behaviour Habitat More ... #facts #marinelifewonders #crustacean

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale belonging to the rorqual family (Balaenopteridae). It is the sole member of the genus Megaptera. Adult humpbacks typically measure 14–17 meters (46–56 feet) in length and can weigh up to 40 metric tons (44 short tons). Their distinctive features include long pectoral fins, tubercles on their heads, and unique breaching behaviors that make them a favorite among whale watchers. Male humpbacks are known for their intricate songs, which can last from 4 to 33 minutes.

Humpback whales inhabit oceans and seas worldwide, undertaking annual migrations of up to 16,000 kilometers (9,900 miles). They feed in polar waters during the summer and migrate to tropical or subtropical waters to breed and give birth. Their diet consists mainly of krill and small fish, often captured using bubble-net feeding techniques. Humpbacks are promiscuous breeders, with both males and females having multiple mates. While orcas are their primary natural predators, humpback whales also host barnacles and whale lice on their bodies.

Historically, humpbacks were extensively hunted, bringing the species to the brink of extinction. By the 1960s, their population had declined to around 5,000. Conservation efforts have led to a partial recovery, with an estimated 135,000 individuals worldwide. However, threats such as fishing gear entanglement, ship collisions, and noise pollution persist. Some individual whales, like Humphrey the Whale, have even gained celebrity status.

Taxonomy
The humpback was first described as baleine de la Nouvelle Angleterre by Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1756. In 1781, Georg Heinrich Borowski assigned it the Latin name Balaena novaeangliae. Bernard Germain de Lacépède reclassified it in 1804 as Balaena jubartes, and John Edward Gray established the genus Megaptera in 1846, naming the species Megaptera longipinna. In 1932, Remington Kellogg restored the name novaeangliae. The common name "humpback" refers to the curvature of their back during dives, while the genus name Megaptera combines the Greek words for "giant" (mega) and "wing" (ptera), referencing their large pectoral fins. The specific name "novaeangliae," meaning "New Englander," likely honors frequent sightings off the New England coast.

Humpbacks belong to the family Balaenopteridae, which includes blue, fin, Bryde's, sei, and minke whales. Genomic studies suggest rorquals diverged from other baleen whales during the late Miocene, approximately 10.5 to 7.5 million years ago. Research indicates a close evolutionary relationship between humpback and fin whales, with reports of a hybrid humpback-blue whale observed in the South Pacific.

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