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Sexual and physical maturity of pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda)
Sazhinov EG (translation by Trevor A. Branch and Yulia Ivashchenko)
International Whaling Commission
2020
SC/68B/SH/12
Most female blue pygmy whales reach puberty when reaching a length of 19.2 m, and at 9-11 ear plug layers, which corresponds to 4.5-5.5 years old. Males reach puberty at a shorter length (18.7 m) and at 10 ear plug layers, or 5 years old.
Physical maturity in females occurs upon reaching lengths 21.7-22.0 m, with the accumulation of 30-40 ear plug layers, i.e. at 15-20 years of life; and males reach physical maturity at 21.0-2 1.4 m and 35-45 ear plug layers, corresponding to 17-22 years of life.
