The dorsal fin of humpback whales is small and about 2/3 back in the postero-caudal direction. It is not made of cartilage, just dense fibroconnective tissue
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/7a6725bf-b49c-462e-a2d5-8627f07f68cb_rw_1200.jpg?h=d851141a533ada637389d4a01f2e1c79)
A pair resting together. Their breathing frequency was very different with the more proximal whale breathing 3-4 times faster then the distal one.
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/5de5b47a-212a-41ef-a5ca-c47ad4c49830_rw_1200.jpg?h=5503ad43783159b00e491c8a9a6d1d97)
Of course, whales are identified by their fluke patterns but they dorsal fin pattern is also different. The distal whale pattern can be seen on a later image in a different part of the bay near Cuverville Island.
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/43163b45-f4e9-4fe4-ac74-bf1f8a639e16_rw_1200.jpg?h=b969f08df6177228e32843429cea063e)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/b6ff2782-91c5-463b-8afb-5831c5abd328_rw_1200.jpg?h=ed117d5dd854573209bc086175764045)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/3a6565ad-fca7-47ca-a20e-3df883fdd7e6_rw_1200.jpg?h=099122b999d9f7941b8eb46a7b7acf22)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/3ceae27f-b1cd-471d-9a2f-0b18537fd9ce_rw_1200.jpg?h=a19f8fae05b684bc3f803da5252a0778)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/99df9dc5-b5cb-4721-8ca9-1b3556f17441_rw_1200.jpg?h=86991d9a24d64e63ce0502e27135050b)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/5cd8671e-9b08-4828-91c8-c40f726c0d5b_rw_1200.jpg?h=c69b588e5db0d9803f7c78bff4a34143)
Coming right under the zodiac !
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/53caaa7e-48c4-4129-8afa-10363160add4_rw_1200.jpg?h=332ac78f31de44797491a3a0966d8ec9)
Spouting out
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/194c5a1d-0ffa-4847-ac5c-ed209257f24e_rw_1200.jpg?h=5be819daa15597ef0f8c340aeb5fe63f)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/ea6161c1-38bd-48da-90b2-0a6984f8b95e_rw_1200.jpg?h=01d0d7b3cbc9d5324e0df43b8451c8e0)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/08569546-9ca0-46a3-9156-a1c36c63ec7a_rw_1200.jpg?h=ab28df632527aaf4ec687cb84388f481)
The flukes were hard to catch, unpredictable and far away !
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/ee900960-d79a-46c8-b3ad-274a42244575_rw_1200.jpg?h=d19688abdc22046f352c1776dfd99477)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/2816204e-7851-4069-b454-4c6000cd23e9_rw_1200.jpg?h=c268c0b15973bd56f374469a9b180ed7)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/c4e6b0e9-2150-4c22-8737-a76a0f5ff7b1_rw_1200.jpg?h=bcb9a4de3c515ae8e8119da90686c56f)
The arching before diving is the reason for the "humpback" name.
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/46f498cc-0385-42fd-bb89-6f52722e023f_rw_1200.jpg?h=ed33c7132eb04504f35634f7ecc9747f)
All flukes are different
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/f4c58ab2-9711-4af1-aab3-b5158475f6a2_rw_1200.jpg?h=7dd3de790417427658a86803ec4560c7)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/a722615d-2d41-43f0-bf09-ae5ab8664ea6_rw_1200.jpg?h=ab284df4e911e410674ba46535cc4f4f)
The tip of the head
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/34d15b02-0399-479d-81b0-7296ee2bb29f_rw_1200.jpg?h=248b3a56df7bb5ff2cc9fe27d875083f)
Thao caught this "upside-down" swimming whale under the boat...
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/1facf7fc-4c23-48f5-bc35-f97bcff7a425_rw_1200.jpg?h=dd0150851448ced99823083bfb1c5590)
... and surfacing.
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/0d6c1def-62cc-46e8-96fc-bfb3e3e20958_rw_1200.jpg?h=4dc0492564394bca4535a74b748ba190)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/ad3a2379-731d-406e-8887-693da77a5199_rw_1200.jpg?h=08b332daffa24c5c881514d519fc28c3)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/e5b324ae-6287-4bd3-8948-7def6ec96ede_rw_1200.jpg?h=61f17696748215c41a0ff8933a6debc0)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/10514670-1340-4414-882f-71b1adb360c5_rw_1200.jpg?h=a81d8b67683ac5d63780eccfe02d306a)
The blowhole (spout) right next to us: we got sprayed !
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/41327b31-7a94-4299-8f61-4e99f92bdb93_rw_1200.jpg?h=992541a6550cd2145650ab7083956f4d)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/25440aca-eaed-4f35-9434-e12768eab4bf_rw_1200.jpg?h=07ea91d644df2b7b9c501362878d3c83)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/9a020922-005d-4fd4-985e-24a76241988a_rw_1200.jpg?h=f268f75ae6a8e0b0e8fb0902d03e0da3)
The dorsal fin marking seen earlier in the distance
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/9570d424-7eff-4379-8bef-c1b5fded3652_rw_1200.jpg?h=c8b28ffc7cf8ad9976e752a65285e71a)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/b63e33e5-4283-4e38-bdf1-29a3811ea9ae_rw_1200.jpg?h=925457aa5c09f29f35c971b2d50dd038)
A little "airplane" mark in this dorsal fin !
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/52be0c9d-66b4-48e6-af0d-d40a3e63cb07_rw_1200.jpg?h=b5bf9e7e7e20a4412330e0015ad0ce86)
Barnacles
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/a3d88fb6-3232-43c5-9126-4d6c652ef31b_rw_1200.jpg?h=06b1f6b490e4f5baa25a8d4c6da59f9a)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/f3cf7eed-7645-45d8-938c-3f05775f34bf_rw_1200.jpg?h=48f534bd87796240a46eac8a4f395909)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/4361d7b8-a210-4c00-ba9f-db364ab9d4dc_rw_1200.jpg?h=d0f4977da36313f20e8b80457b3cc740)
Coming right to us
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/f6ccabcb-102e-4070-ba1e-dc609596ebca_rw_1200.jpg?h=87c2c964cb3551381546ae477efb1a6c)
... and diving just before us!
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/12218c88-9b01-46b8-bdda-b4b3c945dec8_rw_1200.jpg?h=2b0dfb8cc2d0701b91a2cb29f003b8a5)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/c521e3b7-8f67-4a5b-a573-b0c02a7f5509_rw_1200.jpg?h=43b49b5bcfdd1031d55c9a525034a7e1)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf5.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/67ccaa3e-297e-496f-937c-e79a736a199d_rw_1200.jpg?h=7dbf519abfd72c07848ec7eaa981e6e1)
Barnacles on the tip of the lower lip
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/5d0bc8c8-01a2-43c9-ba9f-5e424776d231_rw_1200.jpg?h=5499bd5a7ee13f295f8d269a96feb64a)
Note the hair on the each tubercle
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/eb1289be-09c9-493c-a492-71429823e7b0_rw_1200.jpg?h=c5af1d281b9b4f0d03a2e9cb773d242a)
"Whale louse" actually not an insect of course but a small shrimp-like crab that performs the same function
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/d9edf089-94e2-4acc-adb4-4ec357d04efc_rw_1200.jpg?h=6c4905e6d366d60f75a66f0513d16f14)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/26189687-8bb3-4ee0-b4e5-e34eb80f6fdb_rw_1200.jpg?h=c49fc274eb88c715814200f3acb95a86)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf5.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/62c22fd5-a8c5-4b2a-b001-6d86cd9fcec1_rw_1200.jpg?h=ba3d5c7bc3f997ee80b70a5c14c6311a)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/9ecaeec0-f79d-4fc7-93a1-73edf4e166ab_rw_1200.jpg?h=96f2e46a985e5136c9936401ddbc5f9d)
Whale louse
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/3d571c03-12ac-4840-8292-60e4a5af65c4_rw_1200.jpg?h=b0651ac192080e0975eb7c0154d7ec26)
The spout
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/f7bdfd81-ff46-4c34-a850-a851fe3afed9_rw_1200.jpg?h=f1fe9bd129c8790621faa5c6e936e37a)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/497b5599-7044-4a42-98e3-703892e727b1_rw_1200.jpg?h=1cd6e27e266f02153ee53376a07e218c)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/a3058f66-f749-4b06-ad61-582e8809b7b1_rw_1200.jpg?h=ea24c243d4c68fe1be49b5db2603840e)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/ba5607df-6b36-4ec5-9741-e3840b392abb_rw_1200.jpg?h=6b304674e3159532faaf7f6c03b43af7)
Diving in, next to us
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/19ac30bc-8716-4998-a550-bcd251d8e2af_rw_1200.jpg?h=e1cd6f8d1e260a313d80acce1b4d2089)
Coming for petting
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/34dd155c-e111-49c3-94f0-8677184f95fa_rw_1200.jpg?h=d0cb345637df99d5f0bb7fa1d8a320c1)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/9f5b27b4-2b78-4698-941d-2a0e218799a4_rw_1200.jpg?h=a1d00299affcae0cfb4ec02fd60a575d)
The same "airplane" mark
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/d7c295dc-7fc7-4840-a97e-f7de734933a5_rw_1200.jpg?h=6ca9bf42d481af7903aa3031c07f5329)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/e7f0e0ea-3bf4-4e04-a013-0a5692b70c62_rw_1200.jpg?h=0c8768b9bd806cc2959ac66482c4ddb4)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/c3db43b622526832dc2359d8b6bb24aa/c982e159-af25-4f0e-af7d-b20ab480396a_rw_1200.jpg?h=e9dc6c0f18ef5e27bb9a24b0c4d5dd50)