Humpback+Whale

//Megaptera novaeangliae// The humpback whale is a baleen whale and a rorqual whale that sings amazing songs. It performs complex and cooperative feeding techniques. The humpback has a bulky head with bumpy protuberances (tubercles), each with a bristle. Humpbacks are acrobats of the ocean, [|breaching] and slapping the water. They live in [|pods] and have 2 blowholes. The name humpback describes the motion it makes as it arches its back out of the water in preparation for a dive. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Humpbackwhale.shtml Humpback whales grow to be about 52 feet (16 m) long, weighing 30-50 tons (27-45 tonnes). The females are slightly larger than males, as with all baleen whales. The four-chambered heart of the average humpback whale weighs about 430 pounds (195 kg) - about as much as three average adult human beings. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Humpbackwhale.shtml Humpback whales (like all baleen whales) are seasonal feeders and carnivores that filter feed tiny crustaceans ([|krill] - mainly Euphausia superba, copepods, etc.), [|plankton], and small fish (including herring, mackerel, capelin, and sandeel) from the water. They are gulpers (not skimmers), filter feeders that alternatively swim then gulp a mouthful of plankton or fish. Concentrated masses of prey are preferable for this method of feeding. An average-sized humpback whale will eat 4,400-5,500 pounds (2000-2500 kg) of plankton, krill and small, schooling fish each day during the feeding season in cold waters (about 120 days). They eat twice a day. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Humpbackwhale.shtml It is estimated that there are over 10,000-15,000 humpback whales world-wide. Humpback whales are an endangered species. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Humpbackwhale.shtml Up to 77 years http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/57.shtml Humpback whales live at the surface of the ocean, both in the open ocean and shallow coastline waters. When not migrating, they prefer shallow waters. They migrate from warm tropical waters where they breed and calve to arctic waters where they eat. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Humpbackwhale.shtml There are 3 separate populations of humpbacks, those living in the North Pacific Ocean, those in the North Atlantic Ocean, and those roving the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Humpbackwhale.shtmls Humpback whale breeding occurs mostly in the winter to early spring while near the surface and in warm, tropical waters. The gestation period is about 11-12 months and the calf is born tail first (this is normal for cetaceans) and near the surface in warm, shallow waters. The newborn instinctively swims to the surface within 10 seconds for its first breath; it is helped by its mother, using her flippers. Within 30 minutes of its birth the baby whale can swim. The newborn calf is about 14 feet long (4.3 m) and weighs about 2.5 tons (2.3 tonnes). Twins are extremely rare (about 1% of births); there is almost always one calf. The baby is nurtured with its mother's milk and is weaned in about 11 months. The mother and calf may stay together for a year or longer. Calves drink 100 pounds of milk each day. Humpback whales reach puberty at 4-7 years old, and maturity at 15 years. A calf is born to a female every 1-3 years. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Humpbackwhale.shtml http://library.thinkquest.org/2946/humpback.htm
 * Humpback whale** by Matthew
 * Size**
 * Diet**
 * Population**
 * Lifespan**
 * Habitat**
 * Range**
 * Offspring**
 * Interesting Facts**
 * Has reputation as the most athletic and playful whale
 * Breeches, leaping clear out of the water spinning, falling back and splashing
 * It's known as the singing whale
 * Songs last 3-36 minute//s//