? Bryde's Whales Conservation status: Unknown
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Subclass: Eutheria Order: Cetacea Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenoptiidae Genus: Balaenoptera Species: B. brydei B. edeni
Binomial name
Balaenoptera brydei Olsen, 1913
Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1879
Bryde's Whale range

Bryde’s Whales are the least-known and in many ways the most unusual of the rorquals. They are small by rorqual standards—no more than about 25 tonnes—prefer tropical and temperate waters to the polar seas that other whales in their family frequent; are largely coastal rather than pelagic, and although they retain the characteristic plates of whalebone that the baleen whales use to sieve small creatures from the waters with, their diet is composed almost entirely of fish. The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive. ... U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service photo by Wayne Hoggard. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms (as opposed to folk taxonomy). ... Binomial name Aptenodytes forsteri Gray, 1844 For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Subclass Multituberculata (extinct) Plagiaulacida Cimolodonta Subclass Palaeoryctoides (extinct) Subclass Triconodonta (extinct) Subclass Eutheria (includes extinct ancestors)/Placentalia (excludes extinct ancestors) Afrosoricida Artiodactyla Carnivora Cetacea Chiroptera Cimolesta (extinct) Creodonta (extinct) Condylarthra (extinct) Dermoptera Desmostylia (extinct) Embrithopoda (extinct) Hyracoidea Insectivora Lagomorpha Litopterna (extinct) Macroscelidea Mesonychia (extinct) Notoungulata (extinct) Perissodactyla Pholidota Plesiadapiformes... Eutheria is a taxon (specifically, an infraclass) nearly synonymous with Placentalia, containing the placental mammals and the nearest ancestors of placental mammals (which are known only from the fossil record). ... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti (see text for families) The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... Families Balaenidae Balaenopteridae Eschrichtiidae Neobalaenidae Scientifically known as the Mysticeti, the baleen whales, also called whalebone whales or great whales, form a suborder of the order cetacea. ... Genera Balaenoptera Megaptera Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two genera. ... Genera Balaenoptera Megaptera Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two genera. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... John Anderson. ... Genera Balaenoptera Megaptera Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales, with nine species in two genera. ... Whales are the largest species of exclusively aquatic mammals, members of the order Cetacea, which also includes dolphins and porpoises. ... Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Baleen hair is attached to the baleen plate Baleen (also called whalebone) is a substance made of keratin and is therefore stiff but somewhat elastic. ... Families Balaenidae Balaenopteridae Eschrichtiidae Neobalaenidae Scientifically known as the Mysticeti, the baleen whales, also called whalebone whales or great whales, form a suborder of the order cetacea. ...

There appear to be two species, and some confusion between them exists. Bryde's Whales are very similar in appearance to Sei Whales and almost as large, and were not described until 1878 from a stranded specimen on the coast of Burma, which was given the name Balaenoptera edeni. In 1913 whales off the coast of South Africa were described as Balaenoptera brydei, the name being given to honour Johan Bryde, Norwegian consul and pioneer of the South African whaling industry. (Note that "Bryde's" is pronounced "broo-dess".) Binomial name Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 Sei Whale range The Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis) is a large baleen whale, and as such is one of the largest animals in the world. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... The crew of the oceanographic research vessel Princesse Alice, of Albert Grimaldi (later Prince Albert I of Monaco) pose while flensing a catch Whaling refers to the practice, history and industries associated with the hunting and killing of whales. ...

By the 1950s, it was thought that they were a single species, which became B. edeni (because the first proposed name for any species always has priority) but retained Bryde's Whale as the common name. Recent genetic work, however, indicates that there are in fact two separate species: // Events and trends This map shows two essential global spheres during the Cold War in 1959. ... In biology, a species is the basic unit of biodiversity. ...

• Bryde’s Whale, Balaenoptera brydei, with a worldwide tropical and semi-tropical distribution, grows to 26 tonnes and 15 metres long.
• The Pygmy Bryde's Whale (still often called Eden's Whale, Balaenoptera edeni), is found in coastal waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans.

Bryde's whales vary considerably in form. Five different types have been identified, including at least two smaller ones that tend to stay closer inshore. Alas from the point of view of taxonomic simplicity, DNA testing shows that the newly confirmed pygmy species of South-east Asia is not the same as the similar-looking small form found in the Caribbean. Complicating matters still further, there are forms which appear to be intermediate between Bryde's Whale and the Sei Whale. For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... Central America and the Caribbean (detailed pdf map) The Caribbean, (Spanish: Caribe; French: Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Dutch: Cariben or Caraïben, or more commonly Antillen) or the West Indies, is a group of islands and countries which are in or border the Caribbean Sea which lies on... Binomial name Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 Sei Whale range The Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis) is a large baleen whale, and as such is one of the largest animals in the world. ...

In general, Bryde's Whales have a very broad and short head, with between 40 and 70 ventral grooves, and relatively large eyes. They can be recognised by the 3 parallel longitudinal ridges on the head, from the tip of the snout back to the blowhole. (The other rorquals have just one ridge.) They have a single 3 to 4 metre vertical blow. The prominently curved, pointed dorsal fin is readily seen when a Bryde's Whale surfaces. The flippers are small and slender; the broad, centrally notched tail flukes never break the surface.

Colour varies: the back is generally dark grey or blue to black, the ventral area a lighter cream, shading to greyish purple on the belly. Some have a number of whitish-grey spots, which may be scars from parasites or shark attacks.