Balaenoptera brydei, Bryde's Whale [+]

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Cetacea Family Balaenopteridae Genus Balaenoptera species: Balaenoptera brydei [+ITIS +WoRMS]

← Previous Photo | Next Photo →

Description & Behavior

The Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera brydei (Olsen, 1913), ("Bryde's" is pronounced "broo-dess") is commonly called the tropical whale and like all rorquals (Family Balaenopteridae, the family that includes the blue whale, Bryde's whale, fin whale, humpback whale, minke whale, and sei whale) these long, slender whales are much more streamlined than other large whales. Bryde's whales are dark gray in color on the dorsal side with a yellowish white ventral side. They are the second smallest rorqual with an average length of 12 m, although the female is usually about 0.3 m longer than the male. Bryde's whales have two blowholes located on the top of the head. Bryde's whales are often confused with sei whales; however, the Bryde's whale has three parallel ridges in the area between the blowholes and the tip of the head.

Bryde's Whale, Balaenoptera brydei

The flippers are small compared body size. The prominent dorsal fin is sickle shaped. Instead of teeth, these whales have two rows of baleen plates. These plates are located on the top jaw and number approximately 300 on each side. Each baleen plate is short and wide, 50 cm by 19 cm. Mass: 12,000-20,000 kg. Thought to live between 50-70 years.

Bryde's Whale, Balaenoptera edeni
Pygmy Bryde's Whale identified at the Komodo National Park, Indonesia

The pygmy Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni (Anderson, 1879), aka Eden's whale, is found in coastal waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans.

World Range & Habitat

Bryde's whales are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and off the coast of Ethiopia in warm temperate and sub-tropical waters. Populations exist mainly in warmer waters (~20°C). They are not migratory, but they do move between inshore to offshore waters to follow food.

» GBIF occurrence data in Google Earth [Tips] | Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) (World Distribution) [about]

Feeding Behavior (Ecology)

Bryde's whales, Balaenoptera brydei, feed almost exclusively on pelagic fish (pilchard, mackerel, herring, and anchovies), pelagic crustaceans (shrimp, crabs, and lobsters), and cephalopods (octopus, squid, and cuttlefish). The Bryde's whale consumes whatever shoaling prey is available and often exploits the activities of other predators, swimming through and engulfing the fish they have herded. They are therefore frequently found in areas of high fish abundance, along with seabirds, seals, sharks, and other cetaceans.

Life History

Breeding occurs year-round for Bryde's whales. Sexual maturity is reached at 10 years of age for males and 8 years of age for females. The gestation period is approximately 12 months. Most Bryde's whales bear 1 calf. Calves are around 4 m at birth and weigh 1,000 kg.

Conservation Status/Additional Comments

Some populations were seriously depleted as a result of historical whaling practices. As a result of the 1986 Moratorium on Whaling, they are protected worldwide. Estimated Current Population: 40-80,000 animals (2000).