Humpback Whale Identification

Humpback whales have unique markings on their tail flukes, just like our human finger print, that helps to identify them as individuals. And, of course, it helps that the humpbacks sometimes gratiously provide a clear view of their beautiful tail flukes above the water for photos.

A catalog of thousands of humpback tail flukes is kept by researchers and scientists. But unlike many Id's, the whales are given names rather than numbers.  I like that part.

Some of these great whales also have other identifying marks on their bodies like Fulcrum, who was at some point in her life not only entangled in fishing line but also hit by a boat propeller causing recognizable damage to her dorsal fin.

In just four days of working on the Whale Watcher, as an on board naturalist, I've met eighteen whales by name... Colt, Fulcrum and her calf, Exclaim, Barb, Coral, Owl, Seal, Ember, Putter, Cygnus, Dome, Echo, Salt, Pepper and her calf, Reaper and her calf, Giraffe, Roswell and her calf and Trident.

Here is a little photo gallery of some tails I've been able to capture on film and some tails I've yet to identify.

Stay tuned! Cause, I'm working on it.

PS. Have you taken any humpback tail fluke pictures in your whale watching adventures?

If so, let us know.