Last Updated on April 11, 2023 by Amin Tawar
Humpback Whale Length
Humpback whales are a type of large marine mammal that belongs to the baleen whale suborder. And they are found in all the world’s oceans, and they migrate long distances each year between their summer feeding grounds and their winter breeding grounds.
They are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes long pectoral fins, a humped back, and a tail that is shaped like a paddle.
In terms of their size, Humpback whales are large, filter-feeding whales that are known for their distinctive appearance and behavior.
Adult humpback whales can reach lengths of up to 14–17 m (46–56 ft). They have long, streamlined bodies with a distinctive hump on their back, which gives them their name. Additionally, they also have long flippers and a small, triangular dorsal fin.
| Humpback whale shark | Length |
| Average size | 14-17 m (46-56 ft) |
| Maximum size | 18 m (60 ft) |
Humpback Whale Weight
One of the other major characteristics contributing to the overall size of the Humpback whale is its weight.
Adult males are generally larger than adult females, and the size of an individual whale can vary depending on a number of factors, including its age, sex, and location.
If we talk in terms of numbers, then Humpback whales are among the largest animals on Earth, and they can weigh anywhere from 40 metric tons (44 short tons). The largest humpback whale was a female weighing in at 99 short tons (198,000 lbs).
| Humpback whale shark | Length |
| Average size | 40 metric tons (44 short tons/80,000 lbs) |
| Maximum size | 99 short tons/198,000 lbs |
Humpback Whale Mouth Size
Humpback whales are known for their ability to gulp large amounts of water and then exhale it through their baleen plates, which traps the small animals inside their mouth and allows the whale to swallow them. Humpback whales have relatively small mouths compared to their overall size, but they are still quite large.
The mouth of an adult humpback whale can be up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) wide and 12 feet (3.7 meters) tall, which is large enough to fit several people inside.
The inside of the mouth is lined with hundreds of plates of baleen, which are made of keratin (the same protein that makes up human hair and nails).
These baleen plates are used to filter small marine animals, such as krill and small fish, from the water as the whale feeds. 1
Humpback Whale Eye, Brain, & Tail Size
Although humpback whales are quite large, their eyes are relatively small in comparison to their body size. An adult humpback whale has eyes the size of a soccer ball that is situated on the sides of its head, giving it a broad field of vision.
Humpback whales have relatively small brains compared to their size, weighing only about 20 pounds (9 kg). They are believed to be intelligent creatures, though, and are able to learn from and adapt to their surroundings.
Humpback whales have large tails, or flukes, which they use to propel themselves through the water.
The flukes can be up to 16 feet (5 meters) wide and are typically dark on top and white on the underside.
Humpback whales use their flukes to swim by moving them up and down, and they can also use them to communicate with other whales by slapping them on the surface of the water.
Humpback Whale Baby Size
Humpback whales are among the largest species of whales, and their newborn calves are also quite large at birth.
Newborn humpback whales are typically about 15-16 feet (4.5-5 meters) in length and weigh about 1 ton (907 kg).
They grow quickly, however, and can gain as much as 200 pounds (91 kg) per day during their first year of life.
By the time they are a year old, they are usually around 25-30 feet (7.5-9 meters) in length and weigh around 5-6 tons (4,535-5,443 kg).
Humpback Whale Heart Size
Moving on, it would be quite interesting to note how large the size of a Humpback whale’s heart would be.
The humpback whale’s heart is so large that a person could swim through its main blood vessel, the aorta. The heart of a humpback whale is also relatively slow, beating only about 10-15 times per minute.
In terms of their heart size, Humpback whales have extremely large hearts. These massive hearts are necessary to pump blood throughout the whale’s enormous body, which can reach lengths of up to 5 feet in length, 4 feet in height, and weigh up to 200 kg (440 lbs).
Humpback Whale Size Comparison To Human
Humpback whales are quite large, and they can be up to 52 feet long and weigh around 79 tons. To put that in perspective, a humpback whale is about nine times longer and more than 400 times heavier than the average human male.
While a Humpback whale has a length of 14 m (46 ft) it weighs about 40 metric tons (44 short tons). In contrast, an average adult human is 5.5 to 5.9 feet and weighs 132 to 176 pounds (60 to 80 kg).
| Animal type | Length | Weight |
| Humpback whale | 46-56 ft | 40 metric tons (44 short tons). |
| Average adult human | 5.5 to 5.9 feet | 132 to 176 pounds (60 to 80 kgs) |
Humpback Whale Size Comparison To Blue Whale
| Animal type | Length | Weight |
| Humpback whale | 46-56 ft | 40 metric tons (44 short tons). |
| Antarctic blue whale | 65-75 ft | 400,000 pounds (200 tons) |
Humpback Whale Size Vs Elephant Size Comparison
It’s worth noting that size can vary significantly within a species, and there can be individual elephants that are larger or smaller than the average size for their species. Additionally, there are other species of elephants, such as the Asian elephant, which are generally smaller than African elephants.
However, if we look at the average size of an African elephant, a humpback whale is about four times longer and more than 10 times heavier than an African elephant.
While Humpback whales are 14 m (46 ft) in length and 40 metric tons (44 short tons) in weight, African elephants are 8.2 to 13 feet (2.5 to 4 meters) in length and 1,800 and 6,300 kg (2 and 7 tons/ 4,000 and 14,000 lb) in weight.
| Animal type | Length | Weight |
| Humpback whale | 46-56 ft | 40 metric tons (44 short tons). |
| Elephant | 8.2 to 13 feet (2.5 to 4 meters) | 1,800 and 6,300 kg (2 and 7 tons/ 4,000 and 14,000 lb.) |
Humpback Whale Size Vs Great White Shark
What about a whale and a shark, will they be of the same size as they both are giants or one is larger than the other?
Considering the Humpback whale and the Great white shark’s size, a humpback whale is about 2-3 times longer and more than 25 times heavier than a great white shark.
Humpback whales are quite large, and they can be up to 14 m (46 ft) long and weigh around 40 metric tons (44 short tons).
In comparison, great white sharks are generally smaller than humpback whales, with an average length of 15-20 feet (4.5-6 meters) and an average weight of around 680 and 1,800 kg (1,500 and 4,000 pounds).
| Animal type | Length | Weight |
| Humpback whale | 46-56 ft | 40 metric tons (44 short tons). |
| Great white shark | 11-20 feet (3.3-6 meters) | 680 and 1,800 kg (1,500 and 4,000 pounds) |
Humpback Whale Size Vs Orca Size
Orcas, also known as killer whales, are a type of dolphin and are the largest species in the dolphin family. Considering how large these are, what would happen if an Orca stands beside a Humpback Whale?
So, A Humpback whale has a length of 14 m (46 ft) long and a weight of 40 metric tons (44 short tons).
On the other hand, Orcas are 6 to 8 meters (20 to 26 ft) long and 6 metric tons (13,000 pounds) heavy. Based on this, the Humpback whale is larger and heavier than the Orcas.
| Animal type | Length | Weight |
| Humpback whale | 46-56 ft | 40 metric tons (44 short tons). |
| Orcas | 6 to 8 meters (20 to 26 ft) | 6 metric tons (13,000 pounds) |
Conclusion
And that was everything you need to know about the size of a Humpback whale. I hope this article was informative enough and your queries were answered.
Thank You For Reading!
Related Articles You May Like