AnAge entry for Globicephala melas

Classification (HAGRID: 02289)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Cetacea (Taxon entry)
                Family: Delphinidae (Taxon entry)
                    Genus: Globicephala
Species
Globicephala melas
Common name
Long-finned pilot whale
Synonyms
Globicephala melaena, Delphinus melas

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

IMR
0.015/year
MRDT
10 years
Maximum longevity
60 years (captivity)
Source
ref. 671
Sample size
Tiny
Data quality
Acceptable
Observations

Maximum longevity has been estimated to be around 60 years, which is plausible. Males appear to be longer-lived than females and attain sexual maturity at later ages [0434]. Pregnant females have been reported up to 55 years of age. The MRDT was calculated to be about 10 and the IMR 0.015 for females [0784]. One wild born specimen was still alive in captivity at 37.8 years of age [0671].

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
2,470 days
Male sexual maturity
4,380 days
Gestation
450 days
Weaning
812 days
Litter size
1 (viviparous)
Litters per year
0.2
Inter-litter interval
Weight at birth
109,667 g
Weight at weaning
Adult weight
1,060,000 g
Postnatal growth rate

Metabolism

No information on metabolism is available.

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 552461
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account (if available)
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 9731
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
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Images
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Internet
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