AnAge entry for Balaenoptera physalus

Classification (HAGRID: 02282)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Cetacea (Taxon entry)
                Family: Balaenopteridae
                    Genus: Balaenoptera
Species: Balaenoptera physalus
Common name: Fin whale
Synonyms: Balaena physalus

Maximum longevity: 114 years (wild)
Source: ref. 434
Sample size: Medium
Data quality: Acceptable
Observations: As in other whales, these animals attain sexual maturity before they are fully grown. It is estimated that they attain physical maturity in about 25-30 years. Although there are no detailed studies, some estimates suggest these animals may live over 100 years in the wild with one study estimating that some individuals may live up to 114 years [0434].

No information on metabolism is available.

[0610] Ernest (2003), Life history characteristics of placental non-volant mammals
[0434] Ronald Nowak (1999), Walker's Mammals of the World
[0538] Don Wilson and Sue Ruff (1999), The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals
[0455] Virginia Hayssen et al. (1993), Asdell's Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction: A Compendium of Species-Specific Data
[0680] Wootton (1987), The effects of body mass, phylogeny, habitat, and trophic level on mammalian age at first reproduction