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Humpback whales can generally
be seen in Hawaiian waters between December and
April. It is believed that click image for
more...(photo: National Marine Fisheries
Service)
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Two humpback
whales (Megaptera novaengliae) surfacing
directly beneath a boat. The State of Hawaii's
official marine click image for more...
(photo: National Marine Fisheries Service)
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Humpback whales are very
protective of their calves and prefer the shallow
areas around the islands of Maui, Molokai and
click image for more... (photo: Dave Matilla
- NMFS Permit #807)
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Female humpback whales and
their calves are sometimes accompanied by a single
adult male humpback whale, click image for
more... (photo: Joseph Mobely - NMFS Permit
#810)
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A young calf performing a
back flip in Maalaea Bay, Maui. Spectacular
behaviors such as these (known as breaching) can
easily be click image for more... (photo:
Dave Glickman)
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The scientific name for the
humpbacks, (Megaptera novaengliae), means
"Great Wings of New England." click image for
more...photo: R. Cartwright - NMFS Permit #
895-1450)
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A male humpback whale singing
his mysterious songs. Different ocean floor
topographies can affect the amplification and
distribution of these sounds. Research has shown
that while humpbacks (specifically the sexually
mature click image for more... (photo: Dave
Glickman - NMFS Permit # 882)
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The curious bumps on a
humpback whale's head are called tubercles. Each
tubercle contains a tiny hair which acts as a
click image for more... (photo: Stan Butler
- NMFS Permit #633)
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Other marine
mammals found in Hawaiian waters include the
Naia or Spinner Dolphin (Stenella
longirostris). Hawaiian spinner dolphins
click image for more... (photo: Lori
Mazzuca)
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One of the rarest marine
mammals in the world, the Hawaiian Monk Seal
(Monachus schauinslandi) is click image
for more... (photo: Hawaiian Islands Humpback
Whale NMS)
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A monk seal and a sea turtle
get cozy. This photo was taken at French Frigate
Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian click image
for more... (photo: National Marine Fisheries
Service)
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The green sea turtle
(Chelonia mydas), also known as honu,
is the most common sea turtle in Hawaiian waters.
It feeds on marine plants in shallow coastal waters
throughout the islands and can grow to 200 pounds
or more. click image for more...(photo: Stan
Butler)
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Ulua, also known as
Skipjack (Caranx ignoblis) are large
predatory fish found in deeper waters around
Hawaii. The Ulua is considered a delicacy to local
residents. (photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service)
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Ghost crabs (Ocypode
ceratopthalmus) are among the common beach
inhabitants in the Hawaiian Islands. (photo: Susan
Scott)
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The slate pencil sea urchin
(Heterocentrotus mammillatus) is a common
resident in Hawaii's coral reefs. These bright red
sea urchins have three types of spines; long
triangular spines which keep predators at bay;
click image for more... (photo: Susan
Scott)
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Cowries, like this tiger
cowry (Cypraea tigris), are prized for their
glossy, colorful shells. Tiger cowries grow to a
maximum size of 18 centimeters. (photo: Allen Tom)
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The Crown of Thorns starfish
(Acanthaster planci), a common and often
unwanted resident of coral click image for
more... (photo: Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale
NMS)
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