The Humpback Whale weighs up to 40 tonnes. Despite this, it is extremely active and a powerful swimmer. Humpbacks can be identified by lumps or knobs on the top of their head. They also have very long, whitish pectoral fins and often rest at the surface with one fin extended into the air.
Humpbacks prefer to live along coasts.
They have been known to swim into harbours and even up river estuaries. Antarctica with its rich supply of plankton attracts Humpback Whales every year. They migrate to the tropical seas to give birth. Humpbacks behaviour is fascinating to observe and they are favourites with whale-watching tourists. Despite their huge size, they are quite acrobatic, leaping out of the sea in pursuit of fish.