Age at attainment of sexual maturity in humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae
Twelve female humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the southern Gulf of Maine produced first-observed calves at ages ranging from 5 to 7 years. These data confirm that most females of this species attain sexual maturity at an average age of approximately 5 years. Observations in the West Indi...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
---|---|
Main Author: | |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1992
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z92-202 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z92-202 |
id |
crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z92-202 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z92-202 2024-09-15T18:18:25+00:00 Age at attainment of sexual maturity in humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae Clapham, Phillip J. 1992 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z92-202 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z92-202 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 70, issue 7, page 1470-1472 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1992 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z92-202 2024-08-01T04:10:02Z Twelve female humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the southern Gulf of Maine produced first-observed calves at ages ranging from 5 to 7 years. These data confirm that most females of this species attain sexual maturity at an average age of approximately 5 years. Observations in the West Indies of two males, aged 6 and 7 years, engaged in breeding-related behavior that is characteristic of mature animals suggests that males attain sexual maturity within a similar range of ages to females, although they may not be able to successfully engage in intrasexual competition until later in life. These data imply that the examination of ear plugs to determine the age of dead humpback whales should be based upon an assumed annual growth rate of two growth layer groups, not one. Article in Journal/Newspaper Megaptera novaeangliae Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 70 7 1470 1472 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
Twelve female humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the southern Gulf of Maine produced first-observed calves at ages ranging from 5 to 7 years. These data confirm that most females of this species attain sexual maturity at an average age of approximately 5 years. Observations in the West Indies of two males, aged 6 and 7 years, engaged in breeding-related behavior that is characteristic of mature animals suggests that males attain sexual maturity within a similar range of ages to females, although they may not be able to successfully engage in intrasexual competition until later in life. These data imply that the examination of ear plugs to determine the age of dead humpback whales should be based upon an assumed annual growth rate of two growth layer groups, not one. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Clapham, Phillip J. |
spellingShingle |
Clapham, Phillip J. Age at attainment of sexual maturity in humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae |
author_facet |
Clapham, Phillip J. |
author_sort |
Clapham, Phillip J. |
title |
Age at attainment of sexual maturity in humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae |
title_short |
Age at attainment of sexual maturity in humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae |
title_full |
Age at attainment of sexual maturity in humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae |
title_fullStr |
Age at attainment of sexual maturity in humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae |
title_full_unstemmed |
Age at attainment of sexual maturity in humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae |
title_sort |
age at attainment of sexual maturity in humpback whales, megaptera novaeangliae |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1992 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z92-202 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z92-202 |
genre |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
genre_facet |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 70, issue 7, page 1470-1472 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z92-202 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
70 |
container_issue |
7 |
container_start_page |
1470 |
op_container_end_page |
1472 |
_version_ |
1810456547660136448 |