BRYDE'S WHALE

Balaenoptera edeni

Bryde’s whales are medium-sized rorquals, streamlined and similar in general appearance to the sei whale, though slightly smaller and with several distinctive features. The most characteristic trait is the presence of three parallel ridges on the rostrum. The dorsal fin is tall, sharply falcate, and set far back on the body. This species occurs in tropical and warm-temperate waters above about 20°C and shows variable movement patterns. They are usually encountered alone or in small groups, though loose aggregations may form in productive feeding areas. Bryde’s whales feed year-round, mainly of small pelagic schooling fish. In Portuguese waters the species is rare, however, in 2025, Bryde’s whales were observed along Faro coast with unusual frequency, an exceptionally regular presence, though the reasons for this pattern and the origins of these individuals remain unclear.