Humpback Whale Calf Peduncle Throw

A female humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) that was highly energetic and playful. Here she was slapping the ocean surface, learning how to generate power with the muscles in her peduncle and fluke. It takes practice to learn how to maintain the proper position at the surface to create the perfect splash and accompanying sound, a skill that is used by adult humpback whales to communicate with each other.

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Image Size: 5472x3648 / 57.9MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Whale Humpback Whale Southern Humpback Whale Animalia Chordata Mammalia Eutheria Cetacea Mysticeti Balaenopteridae Megaptera novaeangliae Megaptera novaeangliae australis Cetartiodactyla Baleen Whale CITES Appendix 1 Filter Feeder Marine Mammal Mysticete Rorqual Fluke Tail Slap South Pacific Tonga Vava'u
Contained in galleries: Humpback Whale Activity

A female humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) that was highly energetic and playful. Here she was slapping the ocean surface, learning how to generate power with the muscles in her peduncle and fluke. It takes practice to learn how to maintain the proper position at the surface to create the perfect splash and accompanying sound, a skill that is used by adult humpback whales to communicate with each other.