Humpback Whale
    Image: Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Humpback Whale

    Megaptera novaeangliae

    Marine & Freshwater
    Least Concern

    Quick Facts

    Mass45.0 tonnes
    LifespanUp to 47.5 years
    DietEuphausiacea, zooplankton, Atlantic mackerel

    Facts sourced from Wikidata (CC0).

    Best Months to Spot

    JFMAMJJASOND

    Most sightings recorded in Jul, Aug. Data from GBIF - a global database of verified wildlife observations by researchers and citizen scientists.

    The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual and is the only species in the genus Megaptera. Adults range in length from 14–17 m (46–56 ft) and weigh up to 40 metric tons. The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and tubercles on its head. It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, making it popular with whale watchers. Males produce a complex song that typically lasts from 4 to 33 minutes.

    Description adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    WikipediaWoRMS

    Where to Find

    Top parks for Humpback Whale. Sightings recorded in 200 safari areas total.

    ● Common (500+ sightings)● Occasional (50-499)● Rare (<50)
    Southern Africa
    Table Mountain National ParkWestern Cape & Garden Route, South Africa
    Common
    Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected AreaWestern Cape & Garden Route, South Africa
    Common
    Buffelsfontein Game & Nature ReserveWestern Cape & Garden Route, South Africa
    Common
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