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Body Temperature
Humpback whales have an average core body temperature of 98 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit, which is similar to the body temperature of most other large mammals. However, most other large mammals live on land. Since heat loss in water is about 27 times greater than in air at the same temperature, humpback whales have evolved methods of keeping warm in the cold water of their feeding grounds.
Blubber
One effective way that the humpback whale guards itself against the cold is a thick layer of blubber. Blubber is a layer of fat, oil and fibrous connective tissue located directly under the skin, acting as both an insulator and energy reserve for the humpback. The layer of blubber under a humpback's skin can be up to 6 inches thick and can help the humpback maintain its body temperature in freezing conditions.
Circulatory System
Humpback whales have a circulatory system that uses countercurrent blood exchange, which allows the whale to either cool or warm itself with its own blood. The temperature of blood that circulates close to the surface of the skin is cooled by the external environment. If that blood returns to the heart through superficial veins, it continues to lose heat and arrives at the heart cool, cooling the humpback's internal temperature. However, if the whale is in a cold environment, the cooler surface blood returns to the heart through vessels that are surrounded by arteries that contain warm blood, which heats the blood before it returns to the heart, keeping the humpback warm.
Body Shape
Humpback whales have a torpedo-shaped body and few appendages, which reduces the whale's surface area. The smaller the body's surface area, the easier it is for the whale to maintain and conserve body heat in cold environments, since there is less space on the humpback's body for heat to escape. The humpback's streamlined body shape also allows the whale to be a more efficient swimmer, which helps to conserve energy and body heat.