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an underwater picture of a humpback whale

Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae 

Humpback whales are massive, growing to 17 metres in length. Their huge, dark bodies are flanked by enormous pectoral flippers growing up to around a third of their body length. They use their highly-manoeuvrable flippers for hunting by slapping the water and for swimming and even possibly regulating their body temperature. Image: Natural England/Rebecca Walker (Flickr).

Find out more: Whale and Dolphin Conservation, The Mammal Society, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, iNaturalist