Context:
A Venezuelan kayaker was briefly engulfed by a humpback whale while kayaking in the Strait of Magellan.
Humpback Whales:
- Named for the distinctive hump on their back.
- Female humpback whales are larger than males.
- Distribution – Found in all oceans worldwide.
- Undertake long migrations between polar feeding grounds in summer and tropical/subtropical breeding grounds in winter.
- Unique Characteristics –
- Feeding Technique – Use bubble net feeding, exhaling bubbles in a spiral to trap fish for efficient feeding.
- Breaching – Frequently leap out of the water and crash down, possibly for communication or parasite removal.
- Singing – Male humpback whales produce long, complex songs believed to attract mates.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
- CITES: Listed in Appendix I, indicating strict protection against exploitation.
Read more about Baleen Whales
Source: HT
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of a food chain?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) Diatoms-Crustaceans-Herrings
(b) Crustaceans-Diatoms-Herrings
(c) Diatoms-Herrings-Crustaceans
(d) Crustaceans-Herrings-Diatoms
Answer: (a)