Megaptera novaeangliae (humpback whale)
Specimen Images |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Cetartiodactyla (Cetaceans) |
| Family | Balaenopteridae |
| Genus | Megaptera |
| Species | Megaptera novaeangliae |
| Common | humpback whale |
| Diet | gulper: feeds on krill, other pelagic crustaceans and fish. Group cooperation for schooling fish. |
| Habitat | Worldwide. Status: endangered but increasing in number |
| Description | Cetacean subgroup Mysticeti. Black dorsum, light venter, pectoral flippers and flukes covered with tubercles. Longest pectoral flippers of any whale. Slight crenulations on dorsal surface of caudal peduncle. Size: up to 18 m, 27 metric tons. Dorsal fin small, triangular to sharply falcate. |
| Skull Characteristics | |
| Notes | Links to more species information:
Smithsonian Animal Diversity Web |