#0044 · 🦊 mammals

Humpback Whale

🇳🇱 Bultrug ·Megaptera novaeangliae

LCleast concern 🦊 Mammals 📍 in the Netherlands

9 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © Wayne and Pam Osborn · CC BY-NC 4.0
2. © owl1031 · CC BY-NC 4.0
3. © John Thorogood · CC BY-NC 4.0
4. © James Maughn · CC BY-NC 4.0
5. © José Antonio Linage Espinosa · CC BY-NC 4.0
6. © Tobin Sparling (he/him) · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. © Wayne and Pam Osborn · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. © Wayne and Pam Osborn · CC BY-NC 4.0
9. © Scott Plume · CC BY-NC 4.0

what is it?

The humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 m (39–52 ft) and weigh about 36,000 kg (79,000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, making it popular with whale watchers. Males produce a complex song lasting 10 to 20 minutes, which they repeat for hours at...

base stats

NL sightings 8iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 43,373iNaturalist observations
weight 45 tadult, up to
length 16 madult, up to
lifespan 48 yrmaximum recorded
threat LCleast concern

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

Spotted 8 times in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: the #44 most seen of the mammals in NL.
43,373 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Can weigh about 45 tonnes: as much as 32 cars.
Up to 16 m long: 8.9× a tall person.
Can live up to 48 years.
Scientifically named by Georg Heinrich Borowski in 1781 (245 years ago).