The Humpback Whale
The humpback whale, whose scientific name is Megaptera novaeangliae - “great wings of New England”, reference to the huge pectoral fins and the region of the United States in which the species was first identified by Science - is one of the best known and most dear among the great whales that inhabit the seas of the planet. Reaching up to XXX in length and weighing around XXX tons, humpbacks are easily identifiable by the almost black coloring of the body, by the typical dorsal fin of the species, by the aforementioned large pectoral fins, which can reach ¼ of the body length and they are generally white, and by the tail whose inferred face has black and white coloring patterns, which are unique for each individual, allowing their individual identification.
Biology
Humpback whales are part of the group of mystics or "fin whales", that is, animals that instead of teeth have a curtain of filter bristles on both sides of the mouth - the "fins", very similar to brushes. This apparatus allows humpbacks to feed on tiny marine plankton organisms, especially here in the Southern Hemisphere of krill, a tiny shrimp extremely abundant in the seas around Antarctica, in addition to facilitating the capture of small schooling fish such as sardines and the like. Opening its huge mouth and expanding its ventral folds, the humpback “bites” a large amount of water, which is then expelled through the fins, which retains the food.
Like all mammals, humpbacks breathe air like us. The “splash” characteristic of whales is not water gushed upwards, but hot air expelled at great speed when the animal exhales, and vaporized water that has accumulated over its breathing hole. Over millions of years of evolution, from terrestrial ancestors, whales and other cetaceans - a group that also includes porpoises and dolphins - have had their nostrils moved to the top of the head, which facilitates their breathing in the aquatic environment. It is estimated that humpbacks can remain up to approximately XXX minutes submerged, but in general here in Brazil they are seen making much shorter breathing intervals.
Distribution
Humpback whales are found in almost all seas, with feeding areas close to the polar regions and breeding areas along the tropical coasts of the continents or around islands such as the archipelagos of Hawai'i, Tonga and French Polynesia. All populations are migratory, with the exception of one, which inhabits the Arabian Sea, mainly the waters of Oman.
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The Brazilian population of humpbacks was originally distributed, during the reproductive season, from Rio Grande do Norte to São Paulo; it currently focuses mainly on Banco dos Abrolhos, an extension of the continental shelf covered by coral reefs between southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo. With the population recovery of the species observed in recent years, sightings in the north and south of this region are becoming more frequent, as in the Campos Basin in Rio de Janeiro and around Ilhabela in São Paulo. The main feeding area for Brazilian humpbacks is found around the South Georgia islands in the Antarctic region.
Although it is believed that the majority of the Brazilian humpback population makes a regular movement between these areas, there are confirmed records of some of “our” humpbacks being sighted in the Pacific Ocean (coast of Ecuador) and in the Indian Ocean (between Mozambique and Madagascar) , showing that at least a part of these animals perform movements much wider than previously believed!
Distribution
Humpback whales are found in almost all seas, with feeding areas close to the polar regions and breeding areas along the tropical coasts of the continents or around islands such as the archipelagos of Hawai'i, Tonga and French Polynesia. All populations are migratory, with the exception of one, which inhabits the Arabian Sea, mainly the waters of Oman.
We are a family owned and operated business.
The Brazilian population of humpbacks was originally distributed, during the reproductive season, from Rio Grande do Norte to São Paulo; it currently focuses mainly on Banco dos Abrolhos, an extension of the continental shelf covered by coral reefs between southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo. With the population recovery of the species observed in recent years, sightings in the north and south of this region are becoming more frequent, as in the Campos Basin in Rio de Janeiro and around Ilhabela in São Paulo. The main feeding area for Brazilian humpbacks is found around the South Georgia islands in the Antarctic region.
Although it is believed that the majority of the Brazilian humpback population makes a regular movement between these areas, there are confirmed records of some of “our” humpbacks being sighted in the Pacific Ocean (coast of Ecuador) and in the Indian Ocean (between Mozambique and Madagascar) , showing that at least a part of these animals perform movements much wider than previously believed!
Current Population
It is estimated that the Brazilian humpbacks, which are now in full recovery from the predatory hunting they suffered, have a population size close to 20,000 animals. This estimate is made using data from aerial censuses carried out by Projeto Baleia Jubarte and partner institutions, XXX should we expand the explanation?
Thanks to the total protection of this population, our humpbacks are able to reoccupy their original distribution areas along much of the Brazilian coast. In 2014, when the species was removed from the Official List of Endangered Brazilian Species, the Jubarte Whale Project received recognition from the Ministry of the Environment for its role in this protection and recovery.
