How large do humpback whales become?
Humpback whales are born 10-20 feet long and can weigh 1-2 tons at birth. A full grown humpback whale (at the age of 12) could grow up to 45 feet long and weigh up to 40 tons, with the females usually being longer and heavier than the males. Their flukes grow to be nearly 20 feet wide - as long as their pectoral fins are and roughly the length of their heads. Nearly 40% of their weight is muscle! The largest humpback whale recorded was caught and killed in the Caribbean many years ago. She was 88 feet long. How much she weighed was unknown since they are taken apart before hauling on board. Some scientists speculate that humpbacks could theoretically continue to grow as they age. To this day, the largest humpback known is 50' long and weight most likely 50 tons. (They weigh a ton per foot.) Where did all the big ones go? The sad answer is they were probably taken by the whalers. It may take several generations before we have true answers.
