Bryde's Whale
| Bryde's Whales | |
|---|---|
 |
|
 |
|
| Size comparison against an average human | |
| Conservation status | |
| 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 |
|
The Bryde's Whale (Balaenoptera edeni) is a baleen whale.[1] The whale can grow from 12.5 m (41 ft) to 14 m (46 ft) long and a weight of 16–18.5 tonnes, with the female larger than the male.[2] There has often been confusion between the Sei whale and the Bryde's whale as they look alike and are the same size.[1] Bryde's whale is unique in having three long ridges on its head that go from between the eyes towards the blowhole. All other rorquals have just one. The Bryde's whales skin varies from black to dark grey.[1]
The whale was named after Johan Bryde, who built South Africa's first factory to process whales.[1] They are found in tropical and sub-tropical waters.[3] There seem to be several different types of Bryde's whales, but it has not yet been decided if they are different species, or a sub-species.[3]
References [change]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Description - Balaenoptera edeni". arkive.org. 2012. http://www.arkive.org/brydes-whale/balaenoptera-edeni/. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ↑ "Facts - Balaenoptera edeni". arkive.org. 2012. http://www.arkive.org/brydes-whale/balaenoptera-edeni/#text=Facts. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Balaenoptera edeni (Bryde's Whale, Bryde’s Whale Complex, Common Bryde's Whale, Eden's Whale, Pygmy Bryde's Whale, Tropical Whale)". iucnredlist.org. 2012. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/2476/0. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
