Humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
Sighting evidence at Whale Nursery, Sainte-Marie Island
Photo: Wayne and Pam Osborn · CC BY-NC
Humpback whales undertake one of the longest migrations of any mammal, travelling from Antarctic krill grounds to warm tropical nursery sites each winter. Females give birth to single calves weighing nearly one tonne, and the bay here provides calm shallow water for calves to build strength before the return migration. Males produce the iconic complex song that can carry hundreds of kilometres underwater and may function in mate attraction.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Humpback whale is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.