The humpback whale is the only species of whale in Megaptera, and is very popular for whale-watching because they often breach the surface of the ocean. These magnificent animals have one of the largest migration lengths of any mammal, for example, traveling 10,000 km. They typically travel from high latitudes to feed and move to tropical regions for breeding. Thus, they encounter a wide array of habitats and environmental conditions throughout the year, requiring more research to determine how they respond to things like climate change or ocean pollution.

Art by @cvt.art, Edited by Isabelle McDonald

References:

Clapham, P. J., and Mead, J. (1999). Megaptera novaeangliae. Mamm. Species 604, 1–9. doi: 10.2307/3504352

Stevick, P. T., Neves, M. C., Johansen, F., Engel, M. H., Allen, J., Marcondes, M. C. C., et al. (2011). A quarter of a world away: female humpback whale moves 10 000 km between breeding areas. Biol. Lett. 7, 299–302. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2010.0717