Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Their Latin name means "Big wings of New England", and refers to the distinctive 4.6 m (15 ft) pectoral side-fins or "flippers" which protrude from either side of the body and are almost a third of the whale's body length. They use their flippers to herd or stun fish, guide calves, signal position, or show aggression. The bones in the flippers are similar to those in the arms and hands of humans. The bump just in front of the dorsal fin, as well as a series of bumps on the back, inspired their common name 'humpback'. They are famous for their singing. Each separate stock has its own song and the songs are structurally similar to the songs of birds. In winter, in their breeding grounds, the males will hold their breath and sing for up to an hour. Adult females are slightly larger than the males, reaching 15 m (49 ft) in length and weighing up to 45 tons. The torpedo shape of the whale may assist in their long migrations (up to 7,000 mile round-trip between the summer feeding areas and the winter breeding grounds in Hawaii). They have a maximum speed of about 15 mph. Each humpback has a unique pigmentation pattern on the underside of its tail or fluke, allowing researchers to identify individuals. The world population of humpbacks today is about 10,000. Although showing signs of recovery under protection, the humpback is still listed as 'vulnerable'. These photos were taken off the coast of California between San-Francisco and the Fallarone Islands.