How do you tell the difference between a humpback and a gray whale??

Whale Baleen

How do you tell the difference between a humpback and a gray whale??

Email us with the answer we are looking for, and you could win a $500 gift certificate with Baja Expeditions. We are giving away a total of 3 gift certificates.

HINT: Yes, these whales have different colour. A gray whale is, well, gray, while a humpback whale is a mix of black and white. Humpback whales have giant pectoral fins, which is in fact the derivation of their proper name (Megaptera novaeangliae), meaning “big wing”. Humpback whales also have a distinct dorsal fin, while gray whales have “knobs” on their back. Humpback whales “hump” their back at the start of the dive.

BUT none of these characteristics are what we are looking for. Our suggestion is to check out the colour of their respective baleen. Baleen consists of fringed plates that hang from the roof of their mouths and are used to filter food out of saltwater. Can you imagine how much dental floss it would take to keep their baleen clean!?

Anyways, the answer we are looking for is the difference in the colour of their respective baleen!

Email your answer to, info@bajaex.com, with the subject line “How do you tell the difference between a humpback and a gray whale?”. One entry per person. Cut-off: November 5th, 2023.

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