Wildlifeof China
Bryde's Whale
Whales, Dolphins & Dugong
Photo: Zejulio · CC BY-SA 4.0
Balaenoptera brydei
Basic stats
Diet
Schooling fish and planktonic crustaceans
Habitat
Warm temperate and tropical marine waters
Range
Warm waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans
Size
Up to approximately 15m
Weight
Up to approximately 26,000kg
Bryde's whale is a long, streamlined rorqual distinguished in the field by three parallel ridges along the top of its head. Balaenoptera brydei is the larger, broadly oceanic member of the Bryde's-whale complex, in contrast to the smaller Indo-Pacific form commonly called Eden's whale. It reaches approximately 15m and 26 tonnes. (Wikipedia, general species account; Mammals of Texas)
The species remains mainly in tropical and warm-temperate seas rather than undertaking the extensive polar migrations of many other rorquals. It feeds by engulfing schooling fishes and planktonic crustaceans and is commonly encountered alone or in groups of two or three. (Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals species account; Wikipedia, general species account)
Quick answers
- What does the Bryde's Whale eat?
- Schooling fish and planktonic crustaceans
- What habitat does the Bryde's Whale live in?
- Warm temperate and tropical marine waters
- Where is the Bryde's Whale found?
- Warm waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans
- How big is the Bryde's Whale?
- Up to approximately 15m
- How much does the Bryde's Whale weigh?
- Up to approximately 26,000kg