Menopause is a rare trait among Earth’s species, known to exist in only a few. Aside from chimpanzees and humans, researchers have found clear evidence of menopause in only five species — all of them whales. Menopause is the time that marks the end of your menstrual cycles. I
- New research examines menopause in these whales, with findings that may help explain why this phenomenon evolved, given that it is known in just six of the 6,000-plus mammal species living today.
- The scientists compared the lifespans of 32 toothed whale species. They found that in the five menopausal species – killer whales, false killer whales, beluga whales, narwhals and short-finned pilot whales – the females live about four decades longer than the females of non-menopausal species of similar size.
- Other toothed whales such as sperm whales, as well as the filter-feeding baleen whales, including the blue whale, have not been found to experience menopause.
