Did you see that Peduncle!
Humpback Whales get their name from the prominent arch on their backs seen between their dorsal fins and tails . This arch
is created when Humbacks flex their large penduncle
muscles as they are getting ready to dive deep or
move their tails for swimming. Peduncle
maneuvers or throws also include tail
slaps and sideways moves. Unlike
the lower backs of humans which
can be quite vulnerable, the
peduncle muscle is the
strongest muscle in the
animal kingdom.
Humpback Whale, Maui
© Gretchen M. Ashton