Women experience menopause – the cessation of reproductive function – at around
50 years of age, and typically live for decades after the end of fertility. Among
mammals, only four species of toothed whales seem to show a similar pattern of
early reproductive cessation followed by prolonged post-reproductive life. In this
primer, ...
Women experience menopause – the cessation of reproductive function – at around
50 years of age, and typically live for decades after the end of fertility. Among
mammals, only four species of toothed whales seem to show a similar pattern of
early reproductive cessation followed by prolonged post-reproductive life. In this
primer, we discuss the possible reasons for the evolution of this unusual life history
trait, and why it is restricted to humans and to whales.
