HUMPBACK WHALES
Megaptera novaeangliae
HOW DID THE HUMPBACK WHALE GET ITS NAME?
Megaptera novaeangliae BIG
WINGS ENGLAND
First identified as "baleine de la Nouvelle Angleterre" by Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1756 HUMPBACKS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY THEIR VERY LONG PECTORAL FINS WHICH MAY EXCEED 1/3rd OF THEIR BODY LENGTH.
NEW
THEY ARE CALLED “HUMPBACKS” BECAUSE THEIR DORSAL FIN SITS ON A “HUMP” AND THEY ARCH OR HUMP-UP WHEN THEY DIVE.
FEMALES = 56 FEET MALES = 50 FEET
Source: www.nmfs.noaa.g ov
(FEMALES ARE LARGER THAN MALES IN ALL MYSTICETES)
TUBERCLES: Humpbacks have tubercles, or large bumps, all over their rostrum and along the edges of their long pectoral flukes. Head tubercles each contain a hair (they ARE mammals after all), and are thought to be sensory. Tubercles on the edge of the pectoral fins may play a role in making the flukes more hydrodynamic.
---5 0
–5
6 ft
---
Artist: Uko Gorter, ACS Puget Sound
WHO’S RELATED TO WHOM ? THE FAMILY TREE OF BALEEN WHALES NEXT
FAMILY TREE of BALEEN WHALES
WHERE ARE HUMPBACKS FOUND IN THE WORLD ?
Most baleen whales migrate annually. POLAR = SUMMER FEEDING SUBTROPIC = WINTER BREEDING
SPLASH: Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance and Status of Humpback Whales (in the North Pacific).
Cost a Rica
Revillagigedos (offshore Mexico)
http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/science/pdfs/splashinfosheet.pdf
INDIVIDUAL WHALE IDENTIFICATION THROUGH TAIL PHOTOGRAPHY
http://cascadiaresearch.org/SPLASH/SPLASHEducation/activity5_questions.html
JOHN CALAMBOKIDIS – CASCADIA RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
JOHN CALAMBOKIDIS – CASCADIA RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
JOHN CALAMBOKIDIS – CASCADIA RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
SUCTION CUP TAGS DO NOT PENETRATE THE SKIN OR CAUSE INFECTIONS
READY TO TAG A HUMPBACK WITH SUCTION CUP TAGS
Foraging behavior of humpback whales: kinematic and respiratory patterns suggest a high cost for a lunge. Jeremy A. Goldbogen, John Calambokidis, Donald A. Croll, James T. Harvey, Kelly M. Newton, Erin M. Oleson, Greg Schorr and Robert E. Shadwick
Fig. 5. Dive profiles and vertical distribution of prey. (A) Dive profiles (yellow line) and lunges (green circles) are superimposed onto preyfield maps generated from echosounder data which show increasing density of zooplankton (red, highest; blue, medium; white, lowest)
HUMPBACK WHALES AND
IN OUR WATERS, HUMPBACKS FEED ON BAIT FISH LIKE THESE NORTHERN ANCHOVIES (Engraulis
Length = max 23cm (9�)
Image: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu
Engraulis mordax Anchovies are small baitfish that supply supper for many other animals and are an important part of the open ocean food web. They feed on microscopic morsels and then make a meal for passing fishes, marine mammals and seabirds. To avoid hungry predators, anchovies swim in schools of thousands. With all those moving targets, it’s hard for a predator to focus on just Source: one. http://www.montereybayaquarium.org
Engraulis mordax forms large schools as protection against predators.
TWO HUMPBACKS FEEDING ON NORTHERN ANCHOVIES (Engraulis mordax)
TWO HUMPBACKS FEEDING ON NORTHERN ANCHOVIES (Engraulis mordax)
baleen anchovie s pelican
IN OUR WATERS, HUMPBACKS ALSO FEED ON KRILL ESPECIALLY Thysanoessa spinifera
Length ~ 3cm
Thysanoessa spinifera Phulum Arthropoda Euphausiidae
Class Crustacea
Order Decapoda
Family
They live in vast schools as macroplankton or micronekton.
A RED PATCH OF KRILL ON THE
CLOSER LOOK AT A KRILL PATCH.
A HUMPBACK LUNGES JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE AND SENDS KRILL
HUMPBACKS EMERGE FROM BENEATH AND ENGULF THE WHOLE KRILL PATCH.
baleen
krill
ventral groove s
A CLOSER LOOK INSIDE THE GAPING MOUTH OF A LUNGE FEEDING HUMPBACK WHALE
THE MOUTH CLOSES AND EJECTS THE WATER
BUBBLE NET FEEDING (IN ALASKA)
Image: http://neutronsforbreakfast.wordpress.com
CLICK ON THIS LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJvfjiCTvq4
Figura 2. Esquema del comportamiento en la formación de una cortina simple y recta de burbujas, y de las conductas de alimentación de embestida vertical, lateral y filtración sub-superficial observadas en ballenas jorobadas en el Archipiélago
Revista de Biología Marina y Oceanografía Vol. 46, Nº3: 483-490, diciembre de 2011 Research Note
OTHER UNUSUAL HUMPBACK
“PEC-SLAP”: SLAPPING THE PECTORAL FLUKE
LOB TAILING OR TAIL THROWING
HUMPBACKS LOVE GIANT KELP (Macrocystis)
WHY DO HUMPBACKS PLAY WITH KELP?
ONE HYPOTHESIS IS THAT HUMPBACKS HAVE NO HANDS OR FINGERS SO THEY USE KELP TO REMOVE SURFACE PARASITES AND “SCRATCH” THEIR “ITCH.”
ANOTHER HYPOTHESIS IS THAT THEIR SKIN IS VERY SENSITIVE AND LETTING THE KELP STIPES RUN ACROSS THEIR SKIN FEELS GOOD.
FINALLY, IT COULD JUST AS WELL BE THAT HUMPBACKS LIKE TO PLAY AROUND AND ARE HAVING A LOT OF FUN WITH THE DRIFTING KELP PADDIES.
BREACHING
BREACHING, PECTORAL FIN SLAPPING, AND TAIL THROWING ARE BEHAVIORS THOUGHT TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE AND ARE A
HUMPBACKS ARE ALSO KNOWN FOR…
THE “FRIENDL Y APPROAC H”
HUMPBACKS ARE OFTEN DISTRIBUTED IN THE COMMERCIAL SHIPPING LANES. (A MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF THIS PHOTO IS ON THE NEXT PAGE -->)
LOCATION OF HUMPBACK WHALES IN COMMERCIAL SHIPPING LANES:
WHALES IN THE SHIPPING LANES ARE VULNERABLE TO SHIP STRIKES,
PROPELL OR SCARS AND INTERNAL INJURIES
HUMPBACKS ARE KNOWN AS THE “SINGING WHALES” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo2bVbDtiX8
SOURCE: John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research http://sanctuarysimon.org/projects/project_info.php? projectID=100152
Population trends in the feeding aggregation of humpback whales that extends from southern California to central Washington
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP THE HUMPBACKS?
1-Help prevent ship strikes:
2-Keep their environment clean: Keep their environment clean by carefully disposing of any rubbish in appropriate receptacle, plastic waste can be particularly hazardous when discarded near waterways or beaches.
http://www.equilibrioinformativo.com/2011/02/16/piratas-por-la-vida/
3- Support sanctions against commercial whaling.
4- Help prevent entanglements: conservationists and government agencies are working to prevent entanglements through modifying gear and closing some areas to fishing when whales are present, there are a number of whales entangled
GO WATCH SOME HUMPBACK WHALES !
Cheerio, toodlepip, tahtah !