Humpback Whale

Description:

Large black body with white pectoral flippers. Double blow hole. Pleated underside allows for expansion of body to enable whale to survive the winter months without eating. Large tail is in two segments. Eyes are just before the flippers and are about the size of a grapefruit. Baleen plates allow the whale to filter water to extract krill and sand lance.

Habitat:

Ocean. New England, Stellwagen Bank approximately April-October. Silver Banks, Dominican Republic approximate October-April

Notes:

The whale in this spotting is lobtailing. Lobtailing is an action whereby the whale throws its tail out of the water. A lobtailing whale will often appear to be standing on its head. Tremendous energy is required for the whale to do this as it results in most of its body being above the water. It is an incredible activity to watch!