Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenopteridae
Sightings in Madeira
April to December
ID characteristics
Long, slender, greyish body with paler underside Three parallel rostrum-ridges on head, the central one broader than the side ones Broad flukes with paler undersides though variable
Dorsal fin falcated and normally erected though variable
Surface behaviour
Sometimes inquisitive, approaching boats or swimming alongside them
When diving it strongly arches its tailstock though flukes are never seen
Distribution
Worldwide between parallels 40º North and 40º South
In tropical, subtropical and some warm temperate waters
Social
1 or 2 individuals together
Diet
Fish, krill and other crustaceans
Biometrics
Max length: 15.6m
Adult weight: 12-20 ton
Blow
Vertical, narrow, 3 to 4 meters tall. normally 4 to 7 blows before diving
IUCN Status: Data deficient
Madeira frequency status: Common
Other languages common names
ENG - Tropical whale GER - Brydewal FRA - Baleinoptère de Bryde, Rorqual de Bryde, Rorqual d'Eden, Rorqual tropical ESP - Ballena de Bryde, Rorcual tropical SWE - Brydes fenval DAN - Brydeshvaler ITA - Balenottera di Eden NED - Brydevinvis, Brydes vinvis, Brydewalvis NOR - Brydehval, Sardinhval POL - Płetwal Bryde’a
POR - Baleia-de-bryde, Baleia tropical
