Image courtesy of Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari
| Scientific name: | Balaenoptera brydei |
| Family: | Balaenopteridae |
| Range: | Warmer Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans |
| Habitat: | Oceanic waters |
| Status: | Locally common |
| Population: | Less than 100,000 |
| Diet: | Schooling fish and sometimes krill and copepods |
| Length: | 12-15m, females larger than males |
| Weight: | 13-22 tons |
Identification
Flukes
Commonly arches its tail stock before diving. Flukes are elongate with a notch in the middle. Does not raise flukes.
Dorsal Fin
Prominent dorsal fin is set about three-quarters back along the body and has a very arched trailing edge
Flippers
Slender and comparatively small, smokey grey above and below.
Head Shape
Broad and flattened, narrow in profile. The top of the head has 3 parallel ridges (other rorqual whales have 1)
Body
Streamlined body is long, back and flanks are smokey grey. Underside ranges from white or pale yellow on throat to blue-grey or creamy grey near vent.
Blow
Tall, narrow blow up to 4m high.
Group Size
Found singly, in pairs or in small pods of up to 7. As many as 30 may gather on good feeding grounds.
Behaviour
An erratic swimmer, at the surface its sudden changes in direction are like those of a large dolphin. Can be very acrobatic, breaching near vertically several times in a row. When undisturbed, dives of 1-8 minutes are often followed by 4-7 blows.