Humpback whale

Characteristics

A fin whale with long pectoral fins and hump-filled jaws. It is medium-sized among whales. The pectoral fins are about one-third the length of the body. The Japanese name is likened to the Biwa Hoshi (Zato Hoshi) who carries a biwa with a round back. They can swim at speeds of up to 25 kilometers per hour, and adults can hold their breath for over 40 minutes.

It is also known as the "singing whale" because it makes sounds that sound like songs. Repeat a song that lasts more than 30 minutes.

Ecology

Make a big jump called bleaching. It is believed that they fly to get rid of parasites and for communication, but it is not known why they fly. It travels extensively around the sea depending on the season. They spend their summers near the poles and migrate down to warmer low latitudes in winter to breed. They put small creatures such as krill and herring in their mouths along with the seawater, filter them through the whiskers of their upper jaw, and eat them. live in groups.

Habitat

I was able to see it from the deck of the Hahajima Maru near Hahajima. It was a day when the weather was bad and the sea was stormy, but the whales seemed to be more active on such a day and the burou was clearly visible from the ship. When I was photographing a petrel in the rain, there was a blowfish right next to the boat, and when I ran up to it and set up my camera, it jumped out of the water with its head up. I was surprised by the size and sound of landing.