Bryde’s whales are one of the most poorly understood baleen whale species. Also known as ‘tropical whales’, due to their preference for waters of 16° Celsius or higher, they are found in both nearshore and open waters between the latitudes of 40° South and 40° North. Historically Bryde’s whales have been confused with Sei whales, which are larger and have a more temperate and sub-polar distribution. Further confusion is caused by uncertainty about the possible existence of two species of Bryde’s whales, which have provisionally been classified as two sub-species with partially overlapping ranges: the smaller Eden’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni), and usually larger Bryde’s whale (B. e. brydei) 1,2. Another species that was formerly confused with Bryde’s whales is the Omura’s whale (Balaenoptera omurai), which was only described in 20033, and can overlap in range with both sub-species of Bryde’s whale. While the taxonomists, geneticists and field researchers work to better understand this complex of species, whale watchers can hope to catch a glimpse of them in places like South Africa, New Zealand, the Gulf of Thailand and Brazil, where their range overlaps with some other more predictable and better studied whale species.
Bryde's whale blow and surfacing pattern