Abstract
THE determination of age in humpback whales has been by indirect methods using baleen plates and ear plugs. By these methods, I found that humpback whales in Australian waters reach puberty between 3 and 7 years of age, the majority of puberal whales being 4 or 5 years1. Nishiwaki2, using the ear plugs from humpback whales taken in North Pacific waters, found that the average age at sexual maturity was 5 years.
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References
Chittleborough, R. G., Aust. J. Mar. Fresh. Res., 10, 125 (1959).
Nishiwaki, M., Sci. Rep. Whales Res. Inst. Tokyo, 14, 49 (1959).
Dawbin, W. H., Nature, 183, 1749 (1959).
Chittleborough, R. G., Norske Hvalfansttid, 48, 510 (1959).
Chittleborough, R. G., Aust. J. Mar. Freshw. Res., 6, 1 (1955).
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CHITTLEBOROUGH, R. Marked Humpback Whale of Known Age. Nature 187, 164 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/187164a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/187164a0
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