Close-up shot of a Humpback Wale swimming at the surface off the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Cape Cod
Close-up shot of a Humpback Wale swimming at the surface off the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Cape Cod. The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a Baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 metres (40–50 ft) and weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms (79,000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the water. Males produce a complex whale song, which lasts for 10 to 20 minutes and is repeated for hours at a time. The purpose of the song is not yet clear, although it appears to have a role in mating. The humpback has the most diverse repertoire of feeding methods of all baleen whales.[14] Its most inventive technique is known as bubble net feeding: a group of whales blows bubbles while swimming in circles to create a ring of bubbles. The ring encircles the fish, which are confined in an ever-tighter area as the whales swim in a smaller and smaller circles. The whales then suddenly swim upward through the bubble net, mouths agape, swallowing thousands of fish in one gulp. This technique can involve a ring of bubbles up to 30 m (100 ft) in diameter and the cooperation of a dozen animals. Some of the whales take the task of blowing the bubbles through their blowholes, some dive deeper to drive fish toward the surface, and others herd fish into the net by vocalizing. Humpbacks have been observed bubblenet feeding alone as well.
Size: 5050px × 3360px
Location: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Cape Cod,Massachusetts
Photo credit: © John Gaffen 2 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: animal, body, close-, feeding, head, humpback, mammal, mouth, sea, splash, spray, swimming, wales], water
