Mammals
Bryde's whale
Balaenoptera edeniConservation statusLeast Concern
DietFish that swim in schools, such as sardines and anchovies
LifespanAbout 50 years
Size and weight12-15 m, up to about 25 metric tons
A dark, slim baleen whale, a whale with plates in its mouth instead of teeth. Its small, curved back fin shows above the water when it breathes.
Three head ridges
What makes it specialIt has three ridges side by side on top of its head. Other similar whales do not have this mark.
Surprising factIn the Bolívar Channel, cold water full of food rises to the surface. So it and other whales are often seen there.
PopulationThe world population is not precisely known. In the Galápagos it is seen all year round.
The Bolívar Channel, between Isabela and Fernandina