New Evidence of Menopause in Killer Whales
Published:21 Jul.2021 Source:University of Exeter
Scientists have found new evidence of menopause in killer whales -- raising fascinating questions about how and why it evolved.
Most animals breed throughout their lives. Only humans and four whale species are known to experience menopause, and scientists have long been puzzled about why this occurs. Killer whales are a diverse species made up of multiple separate ecotypes (different types within a species) across the world's oceans that differ in their prey specialisation and patterns of social behaviour.