Odontoceti cetaceans show notable differences in longevity between sexes and across species. The killer whale is the longest-lived — females can reach 90 years, while males rarely exceed 60. The sperm whale shows the greatest parity between sexes, with both reaching 77 years. Smaller species, such as the dwarf sperm whale, have considerably shorter lifespans, ranging between 17 and 22 years.
Chart Data Table
Species
Female (years)
Male (years)
False killer whale
62
57
Pilot whale
60
45
Pygmy sperm whale
23
23
Dwarf sperm whale
22
17
Sperm whale
77
77
Killer whale
90
60
Blainville’s beaked whale
No data available
No data available
Cuvier’s beaked whale
60
60
Pygmy killer whale
No data available
No data available
Gervais’ beaked whale
No data available
No data available
Northern bottlenose whale
48
48
Sowerby’s beaked whale
40
40
Melon-headed whale
45
45
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: Differences in growth and reproduction. 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 Globicephala macrorhynchus 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)
Evans, K. & Hindell, M. A. (2004). The age structure and growth of female sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in southern Australian waters. Journal of Zoology, 263, 237–250. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952836904005096
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
Olesiuk, P. F., Ellis, G. M., Ford, J. K. B. (2005). Life history and population dynamics of northern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in British Columbia. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2005/045. (no DOI — government research document)
Shearer, J. M. et al. (2019). Diving behaviour of Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) off Cape Hatteras. R. Soc. Open Sci., 6, 181728. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.181728
Whitehead, H. et al. (1996). Update COSEWIC status report on the northern bottlenose whale Hyperoodon ampullatus. Ottawa. (no DOI — government status report)
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2017). Management Plan for the Sowerby’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon bidens) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Ottawa. (no DOI — government management plan)
