Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
🐋
Chordata
Mammalia
Artiodactyla
Cetacea
Balaenopteridae
Megaptera novaeangliae
The Singing Giant of the Seas — The Humpback Whale is renowned for its haunting songs and acrobatic breaches. Found in all major oceans, it is one of the most widely distributed large whale species. Ancient coastal peoples hunted Humpback Whales for meat, blubber, and bone long before industrial whaling.
Description
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) — The Humpback Whale is a baleen whale distinguished by its long pectoral fins (up to one-third of its body length) and knobbly head. Adults typically measure 13–16 meters in length and weigh 25,000–30,000 kg. These whales are found in oceans worldwide, migrating thousands of kilometers between feeding and breeding grounds. Their complex songs are sung primarily by males and are believed to play a role in mating behavior.
Quick Facts
Max Mass
Shoulder Height
Standing Height
Length
Diet
Trophic Level
30000
4.5
3
15.5
kg
m
m
m
Piscivore
Planktivores/Filter Feeders
Hunt History
Before the advent of industrial whaling, ancient coastal peoples such as the Chumash (California), Māori (New Zealand), and Arctic cultures scavenged stranded whales and occasionally hunted live ones using boats and hand-thrown harpoons. These hunts were largely opportunistic due to the size and power of the whales.
Earliest Archaeological Evidence of Human Interaction:
Dorset Culture (Canada, c. 3,000 years ago): Whale bone artifacts and evidence of meat processing suggest scavenging or opportunistic hunting of stranded Humpbacks.
Chumash Sites (California, c. 2,000 years ago): Whale bones used in tools and ceremonial items; oral histories mention whale hunting.
Māori Middens (New Zealand, c. 800 years ago): Whale bone tools and cut marks on bones indicate systematic scavenging and processing.
Time & Range
Extinction Status
Extant
Extinction Date
Temporal Range
Region
0
BP
Holocene
Ocean
Wiki Link
Fat Analysis
Fatness Profile:
High
Fat %
35
Est. Renderable Fat
10500
kg
Targeted Organs
Blubber
Adipose Depots
Blubber (circumferential), subcutaneous
Preferred Cuts
Blubber strips
Hunt Difficulty (x/5)
5