What special characteristics do humpback whales have?
Although humpback whales differ from their other family members in many ways, one characteristic that is the same with all six family members is the way the throat grooves, or ventral pleats, are situated. All of the baleen whales have 14 to 35 throat grooves which run from the chin to the navel. The main difference between the humpback and the other whales is that their flippers (pectoral fins) are unusually long – up to approximately 20 feet, which is up to a third of their whole body length. Therefore, they also have the scientific name Megaptera novaeangliae, which means “Great Wings of New England.” The reason the flipper is so long is still a mystery, although scientists have learned that the pectoral fins, with the knobs on the leading edge, make for amazing control and turning abilities. More studies are being done on this subject.
