lifelong mating?

From: Phil Clapham (phillip.clapham@noaa.gov)
Date: Wed Sep 11 2002 - 08:33:55 EDT

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    Actually, whales don't. The whole idea that most mammals - including
    whales - mate for life has no basis in fact. Monogamy is very rare
    among mammals, and that includes whales. In large whales, the father of
    a calf has nothing to do with its rearing, and females mate with more
    than male over the course of their lifetime (sometimes in the course of
    a single breeding season).

    Phil Clapham

    JAKECURTIN@aol.com wrote:
    >
    > WHY DOES A WALE KEEP A LIFETIME MATE? 

    -- 
 

    Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D.
Large Whale Biology Program
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A.

    tel. 508 495-2316
fax 508 495-2066
email: pclapham@whsun1.wh.whoi.edu

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