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Large mammals
Bryde's whale
Bryde's whale · Balaenoptera edeni
Bryde's whales glide gracefully through warm coastal waters, their distinctive triple ridge on the head making every sighting unmistakable.
Fact file
- Size
- Up to 15 metres long and up to 20 tonnes in weight
- Males and females
- Females slightly larger than males, hardly distinguishable externally
- Sounds
- Clicking and grunting sounds, mostly under water
- Diet
- Eat small fish, krill and other planktonic organisms
- Offspring
- A single calf is born after a gestation period of around 12 months
How to identify Bryde's whale
Bryde's whales are medium-sized baleen whales with an elegant, slender silhouette. They reach a length of 12 to 15 metres and weigh around 13 to 20 tonnes. The colour of the Bryde's whale is mostly dark grey to bluish grey and lighter on the flanks. Striking features are three parallel longitudinal ridges on the head, which distinguish them from other whale species.
The flippers of the Bryde's whale are slim and relatively short, the dorsal fin is sickle-shaped and comparatively high. The head appears relatively pointed, the mouth is elongated. Against the light, the outline of the back stands out clearly from the surface of the water. Young animals are light grey and darken as they get older.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- one place where you can see Bryde's whale
Where Bryde's whale live
South Africa
Discover Bryde's whale on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
