Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale [Mexico DPS]

Family: Balaenopteridae · Class: Mammalia · Order: Artiodactyla

Conservation status: Threatened

The humpback whale is a large baleen whale distinguished by its elongated pectoral fins, which can reach up to 16 meters (52 feet) in length, approximately one-third of the whale's total body length. Adults typically measure 12 to 16 meters (39 to 52 feet) in length and weigh 25 to 30 metric tons (55,000 to 66,000 pounds). The species exhibits a distinctive dark gray to black dorsal coloration with white markings on the ventral surface and pectoral fins. A prominent dorsal hump, from which the species derives its common name, is located two-thirds back along the dorsal ridge. The head and lower jaw feature tubercles containing sensory hairs. Humpback whales have a global distribution, occurring in all major oceans. The Mexico Distinct Population Segment (DPS) breeds primarily along the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America, with feeding grounds extending from California to Alaska. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, both the Mexico DPS and Central America DPS feed and travel off the coast of California. The Mexico DPS migrates seasonally between breeding areas in Mexican waters, including the Revillagigedo Islands and mainland coastal areas, and feeding grounds in the North Pacific. During feeding seasons, humpback whales inhabit productive marine waters along continental shelves and slopes, typically at depths of 40 to 200 meters (131 to 656 feet). They frequent areas with high concentrations of krill, small schooling fish, and other prey species. Breeding occurs in warmer tropical and subtropical waters, often in shallow coastal areas and around oceanic islands. The species demonstrates strong site fidelity to both feeding and breeding areas. Humpback whales are filter feeders, primarily consuming euphausiid krill, herring, sardines, and other small schooling fish. They employ various feeding strategies, including bubble netting, lunge feeding, and cooperative feeding behaviors. The species exhibits one of the longest migrations of any mammal, traveling up to 25,000 kilometers (15,500 miles) annually between feeding and breeding grounds. Breeding occurs during winter months, with females giving birth to single calves after an 11-month gestation period. Calves nurse for 10 to 12 months and remain with mothers during their first migration. The National Marine Fisheries Service established 14 distinct population segments for humpback whales in 2016, revising listing status by population. The Mexico DPS is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act as of December 2025. According to NOAA Fisheries, the Mexico DPS population was estimated at approximately 3,264 individuals in recent assessments. Primary threats include vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, acoustic disturbance from shipping and industrial activities, and climate change effects on prey distribution. Ocean warming and acidification may alter food web dynamics, affecting krill and fish populations essential to humpback whale survival. Commercial whaling historically reduced populations to critically low levels, but most populations have shown recovery following international protection measures implemented in 1966.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, and more.