The age at calf independence reflects the degree of maternal investment in each species. Cuvier’s beaked whale stands out, with calves becoming independent only at 4 years, followed by the pilot whale, sperm whale, and Blainville’s beaked whale at 3 years. Pygmy and dwarf sperm whales reach independence early, after just 1 year. For several species, such as the pygmy killer whale and the melon-headed whale, no data are currently available.
Chart Data Table
Species
Independence age (years)
False killer whale
2
Pilot whale
3
Pygmy sperm whale
1
Dwarf sperm whale
1
Sperm whale
3
Killer whale
1.5
Blainville’s beaked whale
3
Cuvier’s beaked whale
4
Pygmy killer whale
No data available
Gervais’s beaked whale
No data available
Northern bottlenose whale
No data available
Sowerby’s beaked whale
1
Melon-headed whale
No data available
References (with hyperlinked sources)
Ferreira, I. M., Kasuya, T., Marsh, H. & Best, P. B. (2014). False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) from Japan and South Africa. Mar. Mammal Sci., 30, 64–84. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12021
Alves, F. et al. (2013). Daytime dive characteristics from six short-finned pilot whales off Madeira Island. Arquipelago – Life and Marine Sciences, 31, 1–8. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.3/3288
Plön, S. & Baird, R. W. (2022). Dwarf Sperm Whale, Kogia sima. In Handbook of the Mammals of Europe. Springer International Publishing. (no public DOI/URL found)
Maio, N. et al. (2022). Life History Traits of Sperm Whales Physeter macrocephalus Stranded along Italian Coasts. Animals, 13(1), 79. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010079
Evans, K. & Hindell, M. A. (2004). The age structure and growth of female sperm whales in southern Australian waters. Journal of Zoology, 263, 237–250. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952836904005096
Olesiuk, P. F., Ellis, G. M., Ford, J. K. B. (2005). Life history and population dynamics of northern resident killer whales. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2005/045. (no DOI — government research document)
Baird, R. W. et al. (2006). Diving behaviour of Cuvier’s and Blainville’s beaked whales in Hawai’i. Can. J. Zool., 84, 1120–1128. https://doi.org/10.1139/z06-095
Shearer, J. M. et al. (2019). Diving behaviour of Cuvier’s beaked whales off Cape Hatteras. R. Soc. Open Sci., 6, 181728. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.181728
Pulis, E. et al. (2018). Movements and dive patterns of pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata). Aquatic Mammals, 44(5), 555–567. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.44.5.2018.555
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2017). Management Plan for the Sowerby’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon bidens) in Canada. Ottawa. (no DOI — government management plan)
