Antarctic flying squid vs Buckelwal

Todarodes filippovae compared with Megaptera novaeangliae

Key Differences

• Antarctic flying squid is Least Concern while Buckelwal is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Antarctic flying squid	Buckelwal
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Mollusca (มอลลัสกา)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Cephalopoda (ชั้นเซฟาโลพอด)	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order	Oegopsida (Oegopsida)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Ommastrephidae	Balaenopteridae (Rorquals)
Genus	Todarodes	Megaptera (Humpback Whales)
Species	Todarodes filippovae	Megaptera novaeangliae

Evolutionary Relationship

Antarctic flying squid and Buckelwal share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (สัตว์)

Conservation Status

Antarctic flying squid

LC — Least Concern

Buckelwal

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~80.0K

Trend: Increasing ↑

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Antarctic flying squid	Buckelwal
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	50 years
Average Length	—	15.0 m
Average Weight	—	30.0 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

Antarctic flying squid

Habitat

Native to South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Chile.

Buckelwal

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Antarctic flying squid

The Antarctic flying squid (Todarodes filippovae) is a species in the genus Todarodes. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Native to South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Buckelwal

Among the most acrobatic of the great whales, humpback whales are renowned for their complex, haunting songs sung by males during breeding season — some lasting hours and evolving over time. Reaching 16 meters and 30 tonnes, they undertake the longest migrations of any mammal. Found in all oceans, humpbacks feed on krill and small fish using cooperative bubble-net feeding. Populations have largely recovered from historic whaling.