Humpback whales typically eat a wide variety of small seafood, including krill, sardines, mackerel, anchovies and other small fish that live in schools. Because humpback whales eat small sea life, they must consume a large amount, which they do by releasing air from their blow holes to funnel fish into a spiral "air cage" to be eaten.
Humpback whales are large, grayish mammals that can be found in all major oceans. Distinguishing features of this type of whale include a small dorsal fin and two blowholes. In general, humpback whales reach lengths of approximately 50 feet and can live for up to 80 years.Learn More
Krill eat phytoplankton and tiny single-celled plants and algae. Most species of krill are omnivorous filter feeders, although there are some carnivorous species that eat the larvae of fish and zooplankton. Most krill use their frontal appendages to form fine combs, which allow them to filter food from the water.Full Answer >
Humpback whales range between 48 and 62.5 feet in length and can weigh up to 40 tons. As baleen whales, humpbacks' consume krill, plankton and small fish. The complex vocalizations of humpbacks are called songs and can last for hours, but the purpose of these sounds is unclear.Full Answer >
Krill are eaten by whales, penguins, seals, squid, fish and people. Although krill are also eaten by hundreds of other animals, these are their greatest predators. Whales eat the larges amount of krill; the blue whale can eat up to four tons of krill each day. The diet of Adelie penguins mainly consists of krill, although all 17 species of penguin depend on krill to survive.Full Answer >
The sheer size of a fully grown humpback whale dissuades all but the most aggressive sea predators from attacking them. In addition, whales typically swim in large groups called "pods" to protect smaller, weaker whales and youth. Mothers with calves swimming within a pod are accompanied by "escort" whales, which follow along slightly outside the pod to protect against aggression from competing humpback groups.Full Answer >