Humpback whale (breach 2)

Megaptera novaeangliae

Port St. Johns, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Fuji S2 Digital, Nikon 80 - 400 VR

This is the second of three sequential images showing a humpback whale breaching.

Adult male humpbacks measure 12-15 meters (40-48 feet) in length, females from 14-15 meters (44-50 ft), weighing 22,000-36,000 kg (25-40 tons).

Whales can breach from surprisingly shallow depths, flinging their entire body almost out of the water before crashing back.

There are a number of theories as to why humpbacks engage in this behavior, but I think they breach for the pure joy of it.