AnAge entry for Delphinapterus leucas

Classification (HAGRID: 01966)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Cetacea (Taxon entry)
                Family: Monodontidae
                    Genus: Delphinapterus
Species: Delphinapterus leucas
Common name: Beluga
Synonyms: Delphinapterus beluga, Delphinapterus catodon, Beluga catodon, Delphinapterus leucas marisalbi

Maximum longevity: 40 years (captivity)
Source: ref. 671
Sample size: Medium
Data quality: Acceptable
Observations: It is estimated that these animals may live up to 40 years in the wild [0573]. One wild born specimen was still alive in captivity at about 34 years of age [0671]. Maximum longevity could be underestimated.

: No information is available on life history. Please contact us if you wish to suggest or contribute data.

[0671] Richard Weigl (2005), Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World
[0434] Ronald Nowak (1999), Walker's Mammals of the World
[0538] Don Wilson and Sue Ruff (1999), The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals
[0455] Virginia Hayssen et al. (1993), Asdell's Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction: A Compendium of Species-Specific Data
[1065] Kastings et al. (1989), Thermoregulation in beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) and killer (Orcinus orca) whales
[0680] Wootton (1987), The effects of body mass, phylogeny, habitat, and trophic level on mammalian age at first reproduction
[0573] David Macdonald (1985), The Encyclopedia of Mammals