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Humpback Whales

                  Humpback Whales are whales that are massively large mammals that dominate the oceans all around the world. They are ordinary creatures who have an established a migrating route, a culture, a society within the oceans of this world. Humpback whales are very active; they are known as acrobatic whales who have enough strength within their large bodies to jump completely off the water. Humpback whales are whales which have dominated the oceans since the dinosaur age; they are always there reminding and illuminating the history of this Earth to modern Human Beings today. 

                    Humpback Whale can be easily identified by their stocky body with obvious humps and black upper parts. The Humpback whale breathes air at the surface of the water through 2 blowholes located near the top of the head.

                    Both males and females reach sexual maturity around the age of five. Full adult maturity is achieved at around 15 years. 

         There are many different types of whales like Killer Whales, Blue Whales, Gray Whales, Whale Sharks, Sperm Whale, and Polar Whales.

         Whales have common ancestors which are the hippos. They evolved about 54 million years ago. Whales entered the water about 50 million years ago. Whales are warm blooded mammals that breathe air into their lungs and feed their young milk from mammary glands and have little hair. 

Humpback Whales:

• they are warm blooded

• they breathe air

• they bear live young and nurse them with milk

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DIET-

     Humpback whales are seasonal feeders and carnivores that filter feed tiny krill, plankton, and small fish. An average-sized humpback whale will eat 4,400-5,500 pounds (2000-2500 kg) of plankton, krill and small, schooling fish each day during the feeding season in cold waters (about 120 days). They eat twice a day.

HABITAT 

      Humpback whales live at the surface of the ocean, both in the open ocean and shallow coastline waters. When not migrating, they prefer shallow waters.

SOCIAL GROUP- 

      Humpbacks travel in large, loose groups. Most associations between humpbacks are temporary, lasting at most a few days. The exception is the strong and lasting bond between mother and calves. 

How long do they live?-

      Humpback whales can live to be at least 50 years old.

Interesting Facts about Humpback Whales-

• Humpback whales are an endangered species that live in North Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, and Southern Hemisphere.

• They will breathe every 20 to 30 seconds for two to three minutes then dive in their peculiar "humpback" fashion, staying under the water for periods of 3 to 28 minutes.

• Females have kids every 2-3 years on average. Within 30 minutes newborn baby whales can swim!!! A newborn is 14 feet long and weighs an estimated 2.5 tons. They drink 100 pounds of milk each day. 

How fast can Humpback Whales swim?-

       A humpback can swim up to 3-9 mph but goes up to 15-16.5 mph when in danger. 

Credits:

http://www.spinalcolumn.net/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/0e3ad_Humpback-whale.jpg

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http://www.treehugger.com/humpback-whales-singing.jpg

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/humpback-whale.html

http://www.worldwidewhale.com/humpbackfacts.php

Learn more at:

http://www.whale-images.com/info/humpback-whale-facts.htm