Bryde’s << BROO duhs >> whale is a long, slender whale that lives in tropical and subtropical seas. It is not found in waters that are colder than 59 °F (15 °C). A Bryde’s whale may reach about 45 feet (14 meters) in length. It is dark gray in color, with three prominent ridges on its head.
A Bryde’s whale has bristly plates called baleen hanging from both sides of its upper jaw. The whales use the baleen to strain food from the water. Their prey consists mainly of squid and small fish. Bryde’s whales feed by lunging open-mouthed into large masses of prey. They then force the water out of their mouth through the baleen, trapping the food inside. They often dive deep for food.
Bryde’s whales are usually found alone or in small groups. Populations that live primarily in subtropical waters appear to migrate toward higher latitudes in summer and toward the equator to breed in winter. Bryde’s whales that live in tropical waters apparently do not migrate. The Bryde’s whale has not been as extensively hunted as other whale species. It is not considered endangered.
