| a large whalebone whale of the genus Megaptera having long narrow flippers, and noted for its habit of arching deeply as it dives: once abundant in coastal waters, it is now rare but its numbers are increasing. |
humpback whale  (click for larger image in new window) n. A baleen whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) having a rounded back and long knobby flippers. Humpback whales communicate using complex, distinctive songs that identify individuals and play an important role in mating. |