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Common Name

Humpback Whale

Specimen Numbers

P12PS00972

Species

Species: novaeangliae

Domain: Eukarya Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Mammalia Subclass: Theria Infraclass: Eutheria Order: Cetacea Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenopteridae Genus: Megaptera Species: novaeangliae 942

Elements

Element	Length	Width	Thickness
Cranium	3241.752	2291.966	1179.596
Mandible Right	3876.517	877.291	403.203
Cervical Vertebrae 1 - Atlas	192.467	718.365	411.17
Cervical Vertebrae 2 - Axis	215.957	833.166	426.407
Cervical Vertebrae 3	117.051	684.682	395.44

Specimen Elements

City

Glacier Bay National Park, Gustavus

Age

Modern to Modern

Collector

National Park Service

Collection

National Park Service: Glacier Bay Alaska

Sex

Female

Is Complete

No

Date Published

12/22/2015

Repository

National Park Service: Glacier Bay Alaska

Country: USA State: Alaska - - Location: Glacier Bay National Park, Gustavus

Cause Of Death

Struck by a cruise ship

Elements

Specimen Links

Link

Link

Link

Link

Comments

NPS Humpback Whale #68. Glacier Bay National Park number P12PS00972. Named "Snow". Struck by a Cruise Ship in Glacier bay July 16, 2001.

In July 2001, a 46-foot adult female humpback whale was found dead at the mouth of Glacier Bay after having been struck by a cruise ship. Known as Whale #68, or "Snow," this humpback was a regular visitor to Glacier Bay and was observed regularly since 1975.

Physically mature adult female humpback whale with sighting history (based on photographs for individual identification of markings on tail flukes) dating back to 1975 in Glacier Bay. A few fetal bones found indicate that the whale was pregnant with a calf that was approximately 1.3 feet long at the time of death. Whale's death was caused by collision with a large cruise ship (856 feet in length, 77,000 gross tons) which resulted in a large skull fracture on the right side of the head. Estimated age of whale is 44.5 years old based on count of growth-layer-groups in ear plug. Total length of whale carcass measured on the beach was 45 ft 6 inches. Both entire pectoral fins were collected and bones carefully extracted, yet no carpal bones were found. Full necropsy report available from Glacier Bay National Park, Gustavus, Alaska.