Whales are mammals generally living in the sea. For lung respiration,
the whale raises their nostrils, that are located on their head above the
water to breathe. Their flukes or tailfins are situated horizontal with
the body to make their up-and-down breathing activity convenient. The humpback
whale ranges from 12 to 14 meters in length and from 25 to 30 tons in average
weight. Dumpy in shape, this species has a pectoral fin which is one third
of the body in length. The body color is generally black on the back side
and white on the under side, but according to in individual or groups, the
color does change. The humpback is a very distinct species with many peculiar
knobs on the upper and lower jaws. The backside of the flukes is black in
color, whereas the underside sharply varies from pure white to deep black
and individual distinction is based on the patterns on the flukes. At the
center of the giant flukes with jagged margin is a "v"like letter cut.
Its Japanese name is said to have its origin in that the humpback whale
resembles in shape the four stringed Japanese lute called "biwa" which biwa
minstrel Zato used to play. |
