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Humpback Whales
The humpback whale is one of the most well-known whale types. They are known for their stocky bodies with obvious humps and black dorsal coloring. They are found in every ocean in the world. Everything about features, diet, and more are found in this category.
298 Questions
What is an important part of the Humpback whale's diet?
Krill and small fishes are the major portion of the Humpback whales' diet.
Where do humpback whales range?
Humpbacks are widespread in almost every ocean in the world. They are found in good numbers in the following oceans.
- 18000 or so animals in North Pacific Ocean
- About 12000 in North Atlantic Ocean
- Around 50000 in the total southern hemisphere
Between the South American mainland & the Islands of Tierra del Fuego, at the southern most part of South America.
What is the population of the humpback whale?
Their population number is between 34,000 and 52,000 Humpback Whales.
How many Humpback whales were there and how many are there now?
Because Humpback whales are endangered, there would be about 20,000 in the world. There probably used to be over 100,000.
After checking with Wikipedia; One John Smith is known to have made attempts to hunt the Humpback whale near what is now the state of Maine in 1614. No population estimates from that period are available. However, by the 18th century, they had become a popular target for whalers. The late 19th century invention of the explosive harpoon, along with the advent of Antarctic Ocean hunting in 1904, drastically reduced whale populations.
It is estimated that at least 200,000 whales were taken (killed) during the 20th century, reducing the world population by 90%.
In 1966, the entire world's whale populaton was estimated to be around 5,000 individuals.
Right now, there at least 80,000 Humpback whales worldwide. The IUCN downgraded them from 'vulnerable' to 'least concern' status in 2008.
The US still considers them to be 'endangered', with the 'North Pacific population' estimated at around 20,000, up from 1,500 before hunting was banned worldwide.
What is a baby humpback whale called?
A calf.
While still nursing on mother's milk, (7-8 months) baby whales are called calves.
While still nursing on mother's milk, (7-8 months) baby whales are called calves. One baby is a calf.
Read more: What_is_a_baby_humpback_whales_called
The humpback is a predator, taking krill and small schooling fish, such as herring, salmon, capelin and sand lance as well as mackerel, pollock and haddock in the North Atlantic. Krill and copepods have been recorded from Australian and Antarctic waters. Humpbacks hunt by direct attack or by stunning prey by hitting the water with pectoral fins or flukes
Can a humpback whale eat a person?
No.
Humpbacks belong to the group of baleen whales - filter feeders. They haven't got the teeth to divide prey up and they can't swallow chunks.
While a humpback's mouth may measure fifteen feet across, their esophagus measures only about six to ten inches. They would choke if they were to try to swallow anything larger than a grapefruit.
Humpback whales are a species of baleen whale, meaning that they do not have teeth; rather, they have baleen plates that they use to filter seawater and extract small prey animals.
Why do whales and barnacles live together?
Barnacles are "filter feeders" (meaning they filter their food out of the water around them. Many filter feeders compete for space on the ocean floor. Barnacles avoid this competition by attaching themselves, often in large colonies, on the tough skin of whales and the underside of ships. They feed on the food suspended in the water around the whale or ship.
What is the role of a humpback whale in the environment?
Whales are important because the whales faeces plays a role the offset carbon in the atmosphere.
Back in the 18th century, whales were hunted for oil which was used for lighting, and heat. The whales also play important role in the food chain eating phytoplankton.
How many years have humpback whales been around?
the humpback whale has been around for a very long time because china and India hunt them
What are 8 humpback whale adaptations?
Size, pectoral fins, flukes, streamlined, color, counter-shading, baleen, blowholes, genitalia internalized, just to name a few.
What is a good website to find a printable picture of a humpback whale spotted in Hawaii?
The sites listed below have many pictures and lots of information. It also had other sites listed so you can continue to look for just the right picture, if the ones that are shown aren't what you're looking for.
How much krill does a humpback whale eat in a day?
Not sure, but they are extremely intelligent. When they are no longer hungry they will sometimes act like they are going to eat the last one. They will toss him in the air and play/scare the last one to death. They will not harm him but soon release him even to the point of throwing the last one back on land. They do not kill for sport. I believe that orcas do participate in 'sport killing', as evidenced by an intact and very dead seal found on the beach on San Juan island. Numerous conical tooth marks from tail to scalp. Skull was crushed. Seal was otherwise intact (not eaten). Why wouldn't they 'sport hunt'-clearly other mammalian predators (ie wolves) do. Seals are competition for the orcas food source. Fewer seals means more salmon for the orcas.
How many babies can a humpback whale can have?
Humpback whales have 1 calf about every 3 years. People don't know when a humpback whale stops producing calves.
Female humpbacks reproduction varies according to the individual whales. Not all migrate to breeding grounds each year, with some females taking 'breaks' between calves. However, there are many females who have been seen returning annually for several years in a row, producing calves each year, returning to mate, then back again the next year! Then they may take 1 to 2 years off before repeating. It is believed that humpbacks can continue to have estrus into their 40s or 50s. It is still unknown how long humpbacks live and will be a few years before answers unfold, according to Dr. Jim Darling of Whale Trust.
What do humpback whales eat in antarctica?
Humpback whales in Antarctica primarily feed on small shrimp-like crustaceans called krill. During the feeding season, they use various techniques, such as bubble net feeding, to concentrate and capture large quantities of krill. Their diet can also include small fish, but krill remains the main component of their sustenance in this region.
Do great white sharks eat humpback whales?
No. Humpback Whales are too big and powerful. Great Whites cannot kill them. Great White Sharks prey upon fish (like Tuna, Rays etc), other smaller species of Sharks, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, sea turtles, sea otters and even sea birds. They prefer prey that has a high content of energy rich fat. They usually hunt early in the morning before the sun rises fully, when the visibility is poor
What if humpbacks become extinct?
no one knows what will happen. if the do eventually become extinct then probably in the year 9000 some one who is a scientist will find a fossil that is a humpback whale and technology will be be able to recreate extinct animals and then they can have more humpback whales again. you never know. besides that was an educated guess.
What are the humpback whales current population status?
Humpbacks are widespread in almost every ocean in the world. They are found in good numbers in the following oceans.
- 18000 or so animals in North Pacific Ocean
- About 12000 in North Atlantic Ocean
- Around 50000 in the total southern hemisphere
