Humpback Whale: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Five facts

1. An adult humpback stretches up to 17 m and weighs as much as 40 metric tons.
2. Its very long flippers push it powerfully through the water and let it steer in any direction, whatever its tail is doing.
3. To hunt, a group swims in a tightening circle, blowing a ring of bubbles that traps its prey, then swims up through it, mouths wide open.
4. Male songs last 4 to 33 minutes and carry at least 10 km. Near Hawaii, humpbacks have been recorded calling for up to seven hours.
5. Humpbacks mob orcas that attack calves, and will even defend other species, seals included.

The quiz

1. What is the maximum weight of an adult humpback?

• 4 metric tons
• 14 metric tons
• 40 metric tons (correct)
• 140 metric tons

They weigh as much as 40 metric tons.

2. What do the long flippers let a humpback do?

• Swim in any direction (correct)
• Glide on land
• Dig in the seabed
• Fly out of the water

Their long fins give strong thrust and let them turn in any direction.

3. What do humpbacks blow to trap their prey?

• Clouds of mud
• Streams of water
• Columns of bubbles (correct)
• Waves of sound

They blow a column of bubbles while swimming in a shrinking circle.

4. In Hawaii, for how long have humpbacks been recorded calling?

• Seven hours (correct)
• Seven minutes
• Seventy minutes
• Two days

They have been recorded calling for as long as seven hours.

5. Which predator do humpbacks mob to defend calves?

• Great white sharks
• Orcas (correct)
• Polar bears
• Giant squid

They mob orcas attacking calves.

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