Little is known about Bryde's whales and they are often confused with sei whales.

Subspecies
Possibly two (offshore and inshore), and maybe a third, dwarf subspecies around the Solomon Islands.

Life span
Up to 72 years.

Statistics
Body length: 11.5-14.5m, Weight: 12-20 tonnes.

Physical description
Bryde's whales are very similar to sei whales, but they have three longitudinal ridges on their head. The skin may be mottled and they are dark above with a light greyish underside. They have a deeply curved dorsal fin.

Distribution
Bryde's whales live in all oceans, in the tropics and sub-tropics.

Diet
They feed on fish and krill.

Behaviour
This species lives singly or in pairs, but congregate loosely to feed.

Conservation status
The 2000 IUCN Red List class Bryde's whales as Data Deficient. They are thought to be locally common with a population of approximately 90,000.