Humpback Whale (species: Megaptera novaeangliae) in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Lizard Island area: all known taxa > Animalia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Mammalia > Cetacea > Mysticeti > Balaenopteridae > Megaptera > Megaptera novaeangliae (gallery)
Megaptera novaeangliae
Humpback Whale


©Whit Welles: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

©Marianne Dwyer: One of two adult Humpback Whale with a calf at Lizard Island, 25 August 2016.

©Marianne Dwyer: Two adult Humpback Whales with calf at Lizard Island, 25 August 2016.

show or add records

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Cetacea
Family Balaenopteridae
Genus Megaptera
Species Megaptera novaeangliae
Status least concern

Show in taxonomy
Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

         

Distinguishing features

A large baleen whale with a small dorsal fin on the distinctive hump. Extremely long pectoral fins, about one third of body length. Knobbly protuberances on head and pectoral fins. Dark grey with white patches on pectoral fins and tail flukes.

Size

  • Up to 1600 cm (Length of specimen) - applies to Adults
  • From 400 cm to 0 cm (Length of specimen) - applies to Newborn

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island area: Humpbacks are seen frequently between May and August

Web resources

References

  • Baker, A.N. (1983). Whales and Dolphins of New Zealand and Australia: An identification guide Victoria University Press, Wellington, NZ.