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Whale Identification - Southern Australia

Humpback whales and Southern Right whales are sighted off the coast in southern Australia at different times of the year. The main characteristics of these species are:- Humpback Whale - Megaptera novaeangliae Distinguishing features include a rotund body with a dorsal fin about two-thirds of the way back along the body. Very long flippers or pectoral fins (about one third of the body length), which are mottled on the upper surface and white underneath. Fleshy, knoblike swellings (tubercules) on the head and lower jaw. Tail flukes are curved with serrated trailing edge. Small dorsal fin. Adults are basically black or grey on the upper surface with a mottled black and white area on the throat, flank and belly. Tail has a dark upper surface but the under side is a variable pattern of black and white plus scars of all shapes and sizes, Length. Adults up to 15 metres; females larger than males. About 4.5 metres at birth; 8.5 metres at 1 year old (after weaning). Weight. Average adult is 40,000 kg., maximum is 48,000 kg. Calves weigh about 1,300 kg at birth. Blow. The blow of a humpback is a single, tall and bushy cloud. Southern Right Whale - Eubalaena australis Distinguishing features include a rotund body with smooth back (no dorsal fin). Pectoral fins are widely splayed, fairly short, with prominent ridges tracing the bone structure. Light coloured, sometimes white, patches of thickened skin (callosites) on the chin, lower lips, upper jaw and near the eyes and blowhole. The tail has very pointed tips, a smooth rear edge with an indentation (median notch) in the centre. Adults are basically black with white to yellowish patterns on the head and irregular splotches of white around the navel. Length. Adults up to 18 metres; females larger than males. About 5 - 6 metres at birth. Weight. Average adult male is 55,000 kg, females bigger and longer to maximum 96,000 kg. Calves weigh about 1,000 kg. Blow. The blow of a right whale is a "v" shaped twin cloud.

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