Humpback Whales

Humpback Whales

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a mysticete cetacean of the family Balenopteridae. Its name derives from the Greek mega- / μεγα (“giant”) and ptera / πτερα (“wing”) and refers to its large pectoral fins. The humpback whale has an average body length of 15.6 meters and weighs approximately 34 metric tons; it is found in all the world’s oceans and seas.
Male humpback whales produce songs with a complex structure and high melodic variability, considered by marine biologists to be among the most sophisticated forms of communication in the animal kingdom. These songs consist of verses and refrains that alternate in a specific order. The basic building blocks are individual sounds similar to musical notes, which combine to form sub-phrases and then phrases. Phrases with similar sounds are repeated in a series to form themes, and multiple themes create a song. Each humpback whale population has a unique song, used by all members of the pod. Over time, the song can change and evolve, and be passed on to other humpback whale populations encountered along shared migration routes.

Technique: Watercolor on cotton paper

Year: 2025