Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Gestation period, neonatal size and maternal investment in placental mammals

Nature volume 313, pages 220–223 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

Two factors complicate the analysis of scaling relationships between neonatal size or gestation period and maternal size in mammals: (1) a fundamental distinction between species with poorly-developed (altricial) neonates and those with well-developed (precocial) neonates; (2) interaction between all three variables. We show here that altricial and precocial mammals can be clearly distinguished by gestation period relative to maternal weight. Separate analysis of the three variables for altricial and precocial mammals yields more appropriate allometric formulae which can in turn be related to a standard fetal growth formula derived from single-species studies. Hence, an overall equation can be derived across species which links neonatal weight to a combined function of gestation period and a fetal growth parameter. The latter, which provides a measure of maternal investment, is a constant for each species but varies allometrically with maternal weight across species1. Analysis of the fetal growth parameter across species shows that altricial mammals generally have a higher maternal investment for a given gestation period and maternal weight than precocial mammals.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rudder, B. C. C. New Scient. 77, 164–166 (1978); thesis, Univ. London (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  2. MacDowell, E. C. & Allen, E. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol Med. 24, 672–674 (1927).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. MacDowell, E. C., Allen, E. & MacDowell, C. G. J. gen. Physiol. 11, 57–70 (1927).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Huggett, A., St, F. & Widdas, W. F. J. gen. Physiol. 114, 306–317 (1951).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Payne, P. R. & Wheeler, E. F. Nature 215, 849–850, 1134–1136 (1967); Proc. Nutr. Soc. 27, 129–138 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Calder, W. A. J. Zool. 198, 215–225 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Leitch, I., Hytten, F. E. & Billewicz, W. Z. Proc. zool. Soc. Lond. 133, 11–28 (1959).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Spencer, R. P. Physiologist, Bethesda 14, 235 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Leutenegger, W. Folia primatol 20, 280–293 (1973); Nature 263, 229–230 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Leutenegger, W. Folia primatol 27, 152–159 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Blueweiss, L. et al. Oecologia 37, 257–272 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Millar, J. S. Evolution 35, 1149–1163 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Cabana, G., Frewin, A., Peters, R. H. & Randall, L. Am. Nat. 120, 17–25 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Robbins, C. T. & Robbins, B. L. Am. Nat. 114, 101–116 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kihlström, J. E. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 43 A, 673–679 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Sacher, G. A. & Staffeldt, E. F. Am. Nat. 108, 593–616 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Western, D. Afr. J. Ecol. 17, 185–204 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Western, D. & Ssemakula, J. Oecologia 54, 281–290 (1982).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Portmann, A. Biomorphosis 1, 49–66, 109–126 (1938); Rev. Suisse Zool. 48, 511–518 (1941); Medizin. Grundlagenforsch. 4, 1–62 (1962); Rev. suisse Zool. 72, 658–666 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Martin, R. D. Z. Morph. Anthrop. 71, 115–124 (1980).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Martin, R. D. Symp. zool Soc. Lond. 51, 87–117 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Frazer, J. F. D. & Huggett, A. St. G. J. zool. Lond. 174, 481–509 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Lande, R. Evolution 33, 402–416 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Martin, R. D. & Harvey, P. H. in Size and Scaling in Primate Biology (ed. Jungers, W. L.) 147–173 (Plenum, New York, 1985).

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    R. D. Martin & A. M. MacLarnon

Authors
  1. R. D. Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. M. MacLarnon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Martin, R., MacLarnon, A. Gestation period, neonatal size and maternal investment in placental mammals. Nature 313, 220–223 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/313220a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/313220a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing