Humpback whale rolling, Santa Barbara Channel, California, USA
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) rolling in the water in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, USA. Humpback whales are identified by the under patterns of their flukes. Humpback whales grow up to 18 metres and 40 tonnes. They have a lifespan of 45 to 50 years. Humpback whales can migrate over 8,000 kilometres between breeding and feeding grounds. Their diet is plankton, small schooling fish and tiny crustaceans such as krill. Humpback whales are known for their acrobatics, which are suspected to be playing or a means of communication. They also communicate through intricate songs.