AnAge entry for Monodon monoceros

Classification (HAGRID: 02315)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Cetacea (Taxon entry)
                Family: Monodontidae
                    Genus: Monodon
Species: Monodon monoceros
Common name: Narwhal
Synonyms: Narwalus microcephalus, Ceratodon monodon, Narwalus vulgaris

Maximum longevity

50 years (wild)

Source

ref. 561

Sample size

Medium

Data quality

Acceptable

Observations

It is estimated that these animals may live more than 50 years. Attempts to keep animals in captivity have so far failed [0561].

Like other species, these animals seem to suffer from reproductive senescence [1370].

No information on metabolism is available.

[1370] Ellis et al. (2018), Analyses of ovarian activity reveal repeated evolution of post-reproductive lifespans in toothed whales (PubMed)
[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
[0561] Margaret Klinowska (1991), Dolphins, Porpoises and Whales. The IUCN Red Data Book