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Bryde's whale Facts

Bryde's whale Facts
Bryde's whale is a medium sized whale that belongs to the group of rorquals (the largest group of baleen whales). It can be found in the sub-tropical and tropical coastal waters of Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Small whales from sub-tropical waters often migrate during the year to avoid lack of food and change in water temperature. Whales from tropical waters spend their entire life in one habitat. Number of Bryde's whales is dropping due to whaling (even though they are protected by law), chemical and noise pollution of the ocean and increased boat traffic. Exact number of remaining Bryde's whales is unknown and this species is listed as data deficient.
Interesting Bryde's whale Facts:
Bryde's whale can reach 40 to 55 feet in length and up to 90.000 pounds of weight. Males are smaller than females.
Upper side of the body is dark grey, blue or black colored. Belly is creamy-colored. Throat and chin are often covered with white patches.
Bryde's whale has broad head, large eyes and three ridges in front of the blowholes. It has sleek body with small, thin flippers. Condensed water expelled from the twin blowholes can reach 13 feet in height.
Bryde's whale is named after Johan Bryde, Norwegian who set up the first whaling station in the South Africa at the beginning of the 20th century.
Bryde's whale has rough tongue and 250 to 365 baleen plates (comb-like structures) equipped with coarse bristles in its mouth. Baleen plates act like a filter that collects food from the water which whale ingests during the feeding.
Bryde's whale eats crustaceans, krill, copepods, cephalopods and fish such as herring, mackerel, sardines and anchovies.
Bryde's whale can dive to the depth of 1.000 feet and spend 5 to 15 minutes under the water before it returns to the surface of water to breathe.
Bryde's whale swim at speed of 5 miles per hour, but it can accelerate to 15 miles per hour when threatened.
Bryde's whale lives solitary life. It occasionally gathers in pairs (usually mothers and their calves) or loose groups composed of up to 20 members.
Bryde's whale produces low-frequency, moaning calls for communication.
Bryde's whale moves unpredictably and often changes direction and travel route without any obvious reason. Scientists do not have explanation for this usual behavior.
Mating season of Bryde's whale takes place all year round in tropical waters and during the winter in sub-tropical waters.
Females produce offspring once every 2 years. Pregnancy lasts 12 months and ends with one baby (calf). Baby is 11 feet long at birth and weighs 2.000 to 2.500 pounds. It depends on the mother's milk during the first year of its life.
Bryde's whale reaches sexual maturity at the age of 8 to 13 years.
Bryde's whale can survive 50 years in the wild.


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