Reproduction
Nothing is known about the mating systems of M. bidens.
Little in known about general reproductive behavior of M. bidens. Mating is thought to occur in late winter, with births late in spring and gestation lasting about 12 months. Young are about 2.4 to 2.7 meters in length and weigh about 185 kg.
Breeding interval: Breeding interval is not known for Sowerby's beaked whales.
Breeding season: Mating is thought to occur in late winter.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Average gestation period: 12 months.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous
Sowerby's beaked whale females provide milk for their young and protect them. There is no other available information on parental investment.
Parental Investment: precocial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
- Barrett, P., D. Macdonald. 1993. Princeton Field Guides: Mammals of Europe. Princeton New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
- Ruff, S., D. Wilson. 1999. The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
- Carwardine, M. 2002. Whales Dolphins and Porposies. New York City, New York: Dorling Kindersley.
- Clapham, P., J. Powell, R. Reeves, B. Stewart. 2002. National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
- 2006. "MarineBio.org" (On-line). Mesoplodon bidens. Accessed October 22, 2006 at http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=334.
- 2006. "Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society" (On-line). Accessed October 22, 2006 at http://www.wdcs.org/dan/publishing.nsf/allweb/BBA6AFE5C70302F7802569CF00406D58.
- Culik, B. 2003. "Convention on Migratory Species" (On-line). Accessed October 22, 2006 at http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/m_bidens/m_bidens.htm.
- Mottet, C. 2003. "Texas Marine Mammal Standing Network" (On-line). Accessed October 22, 2006 at http://www.sci.tamucc.edu/tmmsn/29Species/sowerbysbeakedwhale.html.
Source information
©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
View source
Supplier:
Animal Diversity Web
Editor: Tanya Dewey, Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
Editor: Chris Yahnke, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Author: Rachel Mortensen, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Mortensen, R. 2007. "Mesoplodon bidens" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 04, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mesoplodon_bidens.html
Revisions
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