Bryde's Whale
Balaenoptera brydei
Points
20
per confirmed sighting
Bryde's Whale.
Balaenoptera brydei
Category
mammals
Family
Balaenopteridae
Size
About 40–55 ft (12.2–16.8 m) long; NOAA gives a typical weight of about 90,000 lb (about 40.8 t).
Points
20 pts
A closer look
Field notes for spotting, identifying and understanding bryde's whale in its natural range.
Overview
How to identify it
Habitat
Tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate seas; the larger Bryde's form is primarily pelagic.
Diet
Feeds on krill, copepods, red crabs, shrimp and schooling fishes such as sardines, pilchards, herring and mackerel.
Behaviour
When to look
Active day and night; dives commonly last about 5–15 minutes.
Where to see it
South Africa
Namibia
Mozambique
AngolaSafety and etiquette
Observe from a safe distance and never handle or feed wildlife.
Verification and sources
1500 verified species across ten Southern African countries. Spotted an error? Tell us through community guidelines.