Which whale species has a distinctive hump before its dorsal fin?

The whale species with a distinctive hump before its dorsal fin is the humpback whale. Its short dorsal fin sits on a raised, rounded part of the back, creating the profile that inspired its common name.

Humpbacks are rorquals, a group of baleen whales that includes blue and fin whales. Their bodies are bulky, but their exceptionally long pectoral flippers—about one-third of their body length—help them maneuver during feeding and surface displays. They also have expandable throat grooves for engulfing large volumes of water and prey.

The hump is not a separate body structure or a permanent swelling. It is the rounded back and muscular body shape immediately in front of the small dorsal fin. This feature helps distinguish humpbacks from blue and fin whales, whose dorsal fins are positioned differently and whose bodies are generally more streamlined.

Humpbacks are famous for breaching, tail slapping, and complex songs. They migrate between feeding grounds in colder waters and breeding areas in warmer seas, and females typically give birth after an 11.5-month pregnancy.