Science

Tail coloration of humpback whales in Patagonia

Published 2004 What does the tail coloration of humpback whales in Patagonia tell us? Published: 2004 Authors: Jorge Gibbons, Juan J. Capella, Yerko Vilina Download the full study here Study summary This paper analyzes the pigmentation patterns on the ventral side of the fluke of humpback whales […]

Published 2004

What does the tail coloration of humpback whales in Patagonia tell us?

Study summary

This work analyzes the pigmentation patterns on the ventral part of the caudal fin (fluke) of humpback whales feeding in the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, in the Strait of Magellan, Chile.

Using high-quality photographs of 57 individuals, the researchers classified the flukes into five categories of coloration, from completely white to completely black.

Key Findings

  • Most of the whales in the Strait of Magellan have mostly clear flukes (categories 1, 2 and 3).

  • The coloration patterns were statistically similar to those observed in humpback whales Colombia and the Western Antarctic Peninsula.

  • Instead, they were significantly different of the populations of Australia, Japan, Mexico and Hawaii.

Why is this coloring pattern important?

The fluke's coloration acts as a kind of "fingerprint," allowing:

  • Individual identification of whales for photo-identification studies.

  • Inferences about migrations and population relations between breeding areas (such as Colombia) and feeding areas (such as Magallanes).

  • Confirmations of previous genetic analyses on stock differentiation of humpback whales in the South Pacific.

This study supports the hypothesis that humpback whales feeding in the Strait of Magellan are part of stock G, which includes individuals that breed on the Eastern Tropical Pacific coast.

Where was the research done?

  • Francisco Coloane Marine Park (53º37'S, 72º21'W)

  • Strait of Magellan, Chile

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CAMP AEREA ISLA
Año 2003. Primera etapa de construcción del campamento científico en la misma ubicación actual.

Year 2003: First stage of construction of the scientific camp at its current location.

Year 2002: First scientific camp before establishing the one at the current location.

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Year 2002: Team that built the camp at the current location, which began operating in January 2003.

Año 2003. Primera etapa de construcción del campamento científico en la misma ubicación actual.

Benjamin Hoffmann Hidber, an environmental technician, was the one who designed our Eco-camp.

An eco-camp was built as a base of operations on the east side of Carlos III Island, connected by walkways to minimize the impact on the territory.

In parallel, with support from the Government's Innovation Fund (CORFO), the company Whalesound was founded as a logistics platform to support scientific research and outreach activities.

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As a result of this discovery, associated studies, and government interest, the country's first Marine Park was created there in 2003, called Francisco Coloane Marine Park.

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At the end of the last century, a group of young biologists and explorers discovered what is, to date, the only feeding ground for humpback whales in the Strait of Magellan.

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We have been operating tourist routes for over 20 years and conducting research in the area for 30 years.