This is a collection of lists of mammal gestation period estimated by experts in their fields. The mammals included are only viviparous (marsupials and placentals) as some mammals, which are monotremes (including platypuses and echidnas) lay their eggs. A marsupial has a short gestation period, typically shorter than placental. For more information on how these estimates were ascertained, see Wikipedia's articles on gestational age.
The gestation figures given here are shown in days. They represent average values and should only be considered as approximations.
Mammal Gestation period (days)infoplease.com > Health and Science > Environment and Nature > Nature > Gestation, Incubation, and Longevity of Selected Animals By James G. Doherty, general curator, The Wildlife Conservation Society. Retrieved on April 9, 2010 Reference Min Max Average Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) 213 Anteater (Giant) (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) 170 190 180 Ape (Bonobo) (Pan paniscus) 196 260 228 Ape (Bornean orangutan) (Pongo pygmaeus) 234 Ape (Chimpanzee) (Pan troglodytes) 230 250 240 Ape (Gorilla) (Genus Gorilla) 255 260 257 Ape (Human) (Homo sapiens) 259 275 270 Ape (Lar gibbon) (Hylobates lar) 220 Ape (Siamang) (Symphalangus syndactylus) 236 Armadillo (Nine-banded) (Dasypus novemcinctus) 120 Armadillo (Six-banded) (Euphractus sexcinctus) 62 Badger (American) (Taxidea taxus) 60 Bat (Common vampire) (Desmodus rotundus) 213 Bat (Little brown) (Myotis lucifugus) 50 60 55 Bear (Black) (Ursus americanus) 220 Bear (Giant panda) (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) 95 160 127 Bear (Grizzly) (Ursus arctos) 215 Bear (Polar) (Ursus maritimus) 241 Bovid (American bison) (Bison bison) 285 Bovid (Barbary sheep) (Ammotragus lervia) 158 Bovid (Bay duiker) (Cephalophus dorsalis) 120 Bovid (Bighorn sheep) (Ovis canadensis) 180 Bovid (Blackbuck) (Antilope cervicapra) 165 Bovid (Cattle) (Bos taurus) 279 287 283 Bovid (Common eland) (Taurotragus oryx) 255 Bovid (Domestic goat) (Capra hircus) 145 155 150 Bovid (Domestic sheep) (Ovis aries) 150 Bovid (Domestic yak) (Bos grunniens) 255 Bovid (Dorcas gazelle) (Gazella dorcas) 132 Bovid (Impala) (Aepyceros melampus) 191 Bovid (Mountain goat) (Oreamnos americanus) 176 Bovid (Sable antelope) (Hippotragus niger) 270 Bovid (Thomson's gazelle) (Gazella thomsonii) 165 Bovid (Zebu) (Bos indicus) 280 Camelid (Alpaca) (Lama pacos) 345 Camelid (Bactrian camel) (Camelus bactrianus) 360 420 390 Camelid (Llama) (Lama glama) 330 Canid (African wild dog) (Lycaon pictus) 71 Canid (Bat-eared fox) (Otocyon megalotis) 65 Canid (Coyote) (Canis latrans) 62 Canid (Domestic dog) (Canis familiaris) 58 65 61 Canid (Golden jackal) (Canis aureus) 62 Canid (Island fox) (Urocyon littoralis) 63 Canid (Red fox) (Vulpes vulpes) 52 Canid (Wolf) (Canis lupus) 60 68 64 Cat (Canadian lynx) (Lynx canadensis) 60 Cat (Cheetah) (Acinoyx jubatus) 92 Cat (Domestic) (Felis catus) 58 67 64 Cat (Leopard) (Panthera pardus) 92 95 93 Cat (Lion) (Panthera leo) 108 Cat (Puma) (Puma concolor) 90 Cat (Tiger) (Panthera tigris) 105 113 109 Deer (Chital) (Axis axis) 218 Deer (Common fallow) (Dama dama) 228Langer, P. (2008). The phases of maternal investment in eutherian mammals. Zoology, 111(2), 148-162. Deer (Elk, aka Wapiti) (Cervus canadensis) 240 250 245 Deer (Moose) (Alces alces) 240 250 245 Deer (Mule) (Odocoileus hemionus) 206 Deer (Père David's) (Elaphurus davidianus) 284 Deer (Red) (Cervus elaphus) 238 Deer (Reindeer) (Rangifer tarandus) 215 Deer (Sambar) (Rusa unicolor) 246 Deer (White-tailed) (Odocoileus virginianus) 201 Elephant shrew (Bushveld) (Elephantulus intufi) 51 Elephant shrew (Eastern rock) (Elephantulus myurus) 46 Elephant (African bush) (Loxodonta africana) 670 Elephant (African forest) (Loxodonta cyclotis) 670 Elephant (Asian) (Elephas maximus) 548 670 609 Equid (Burchell's_zebra) (Equus quagga burchelli) 390 Equid (Donkey) (Equus asinus) 335 426 365 Equid (Grant's zebra) (Equus quagga boehmi) 361 390 375 Equid (Horse) (Equus caballus) 330 342 336 Ferret (Domestic) (Mustela furo) 41 42 41 Galago (Family Galagidae) 124 Giraffe (Genus Giraffa) 420 450 430 Hare (European) (Lepus europaeus) 41 Hedgehog (European) (Erinaceus europaeus) 34 Hippopotamus (Common) (Hippopotamus amphibius) 225 250 237 Hyena (Striped) (Hyaena hyaena) 90 Hyrax (Rock) (Procavia capensis) 255 Kinkajou (Potos flavus) 77 Lemur (Superfamily Lemuroidea) 128 Manatee (West Indian) (Trichechus manatus) 365 426 396 Marsupial (Kangaroo) (Family Macropodidae) 42 Marsupial (Koala) (Phascolarctos cinereus) 34 Marsupial (Quokka) (Setonix brachyurus) 26Sacher, G. A., & Staffeldt, E. F. (1974). Relation of gestation time to brain weight for placental mammals: implications for the theory of vertebrate growth. The American Naturalist, 108(963), 593-615. Marsupial (Stripe-faced dunnart) (Sminthopsis macroura) 9.5 12 11 . A timetable of embryonic development, and ovarian and uterine changes during pregnancy, in the stripe-faced dunnart, Sminthopsis macroura (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Journal of reproduction and fertility 91 1 (1991): 213-27. DOI 10.1530/jrf.0.0910213 Marsupial (Virginia opossum) (Didelphis virginiana) 12 13 12 Marsupial (Wombat) (Family Vombatidae) 26 28 27 Mink (European) (Mustela lutreola) 38 76 57 Anamnese en lichamelijk onderzoek bij gezelschapsdieren, A.Rijnberk, F.J.van Sluis, 2nd print, Bohn Stafleu van Loghum, 2005, (Current Dutch veterinary examination study book for small domestic mammals) Monkey (Baboon) (Genus Papio) 185 Monkey (Blue) (Cercopithecus mitis) 140 Monkey (Bonnet macaque) (Macaca radiata) 153 169 161 Monkey (Brown woolly) (Lagothrix lagothrica) 139 Monkey (Celebes crested macaque) (Macaca nigra) 155 175 164 Monkey (Crab-eating macaque) (Macaca fascicularis) 153 179 165 Monkey (Dusky leaf) (Trachypithecus obscurus or Presbytis obscurus) 150 Monkey (Formosan rock macaque) (Macaca cyclopis) 163 Monkey (Gelada) (Theropithecus gelada) 170 Monkey (Goeldi's marmoset) (Callimico goeldii) 149 152 151 Monkey (Golden lion tamarin) (Leontopithecus rosalia) 131 Monkey (Gracile capuchin) (Genus Cebus) 180 Monkey (Grey-cheeked mangabey) (Cercocebus albigena) 174 Monkey (Grivet) (Cercopithecus aethiops) 210 Monkey (Guenon) (Genus Cercopithecus) 160 Monkey (Japanese macaque) (Macaca fuscata) 150 180 166 Monkey (King colobus) (Colobus polykomos) 180 213 202 Monkey (Mantled howler) (Alquatta paliatta) 139 Monkey (Northern plains gray langur) (Semnopithecus entellus or Presbytis entellus) 183 Monkey (Patas) (Erythrocebus patas) 192 Monkey (Proboscis) (Nasalis larvatus) 166 Monkey (Red-shanked douc) (Pygathrix nemaeus) 180 190 185 Monkey (Red-tailed) (Cercopithecus ascanius) 190 Monkey (Rhesus macaque) (Macaca mulatta) 164 Monkey (Southern pig-tailed macaque) (Macaca nemestrina) 168 171 170 Monkey (Spider) (Genus Ateles) 139Ardito, G. (1976). Check-list of the data on the gestation length of primates. Journal of human evolution, 5(2), 213-222. Monkey (Squirrel) (Genus Saimiri) 167 Monkey (Stump-tailed macaque) (Macaca arctoides) 168 184 182 Monkey (Talapoin) (Cercopithecus talapoin) 196 Monkey (Tamarin) (Genus Saguinus) 162 Monkey (Toque macaque) (Macaca sinica) 180 Monkey (Vervet) (Cercopithecus pygerythrus) 195 Otter (Subfamily Lutrinae) 60 86 73 Pig (Domestic) (Sus domesticus) 112 115 113 Pig (Wild boar) (Sus scrofa) 120 Pinniped (California sea lion) (Zalophus californianus) 350 Pinniped (Northern fur seal) (Callorhinus ursinus) 254 Pinniped (Southern elephant seal) (Mirounga leonina) 335 Pinniped (Walrus) (Odobenus rosmarus) 456 Pinniped (Weddel seal) (Leptonychotes wedelli) 310 Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) 246 Rabbit (Domestic) (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus) 28 35 31 Raccoon (Common) (Procyon lotor) 63 Rhinoceros (Black) (Diceros bicornis) 450 Rhinoceros (Indian) (Rhinoceros unicornis) 478Kiltie, R. A. (1982). Intraspecific variation in the mammalian gestation period. Journal of Mammalogy, 63(4), 646-652. Rhinoceros (White) (Ceratotherium simum) 467 Rodent (Beaver) (Genus Castor) 122 Rodent (Chinchilla) (Genus Chinchilla) 105 115 110A.Rijnberk, F.J (2005). Anamnese en lichamelijk onderzoek bij gezelschapsdieren, A.Rijnberk, F.J.van Sluis, 2nd print, Bohn Stafleu van Loghum, 2005, (Current Dutch veterinary examination study book for small domestic mammals) Rodent (Chinese hamster) (Cricetulus griseus) 21 Rodent (Chipmunk) (Subtribe Tamiina) 31 Rodent (Cotton mouse) (Peromyscus gossypinus) 23 Rodent (Coypu) (Myocastor coypus) 132 Rodent (Crested porcupine) (Hystrix cristata) 112 Rodent (Domestic guinea pig) (Cavia porcellus) 56 74 65 Rodent (Domestic mouse) (Mus musculus) 19 Rodent (Eastern gray squirrel) (Sciurus carolinensis) 30 40 35 Rodent (Golden hamster) (Mesocricetus auratus) 16 Rodent (Greater Egyptian gerbil) (Gebrillus pyramidum) 21 Rodent (Green acouchi) (Myoprocta pratti) 98 Rodent (Hamster) (Subfamily Cricetinae) 16 23 20 Rodent (Hispid cotton rat) (Sigmodon hispidus) 27 Rodent (Meadow mouse) (Microtus pennsylvanicus) 21 Rodent (Mongolian gerbil) (Meriones unguiculatus) 22 130 24 Rodent (Muskrat) (Ondatra zibethicus) 28 30 29 Rodent (North American porcupine) (Erethizon dorsatum) 113 Rodent (Rat) (Genus Rattus) 21 23 22 The Laboratory Rat, 2nd Edition, Eds. Mark A. Sucklow, Steven H. Weisbroth, and Craig L. Franklin. Page 151. Rodent (Red squirrel) (Sciurus vulgaris) 38 Rodent (Southern flying squirrel) (Glaucomys volans) 40 Rodent (White-footed mouse) (Peromyscus leucopus) 23 Skunk (Striped) (Mephitis mephitis) 65 Sloth (Hoffmann's two-toed)) (Choloepus hoffmanni) 355 377 366 Sloth (Pale-throated) (Bradypus tridactylus) 183 Slow loris (Sunda) (Nycticebus coucang) 90 Tapir (Malayan) (Acrocodia indica) 379 Treeshrew (Common) (Tupaia glis) 46 Whale (Beluga) (Delphinapterus leucas) 408 Whale (Blue) (Balaenoptera musculus) 305 365 335 Whale (Bottlenose dolphin) (Tursiops truncatus) 364 Whale (Harbour porpoise) (Phocoena phocoena) 270 Whale (Northern right whale dolphin) (Lissodelphis borealis) 368 374 371 Whale (Orca) (Orcinus orca) 473 567 532 Whale (Sperm) (Physeter catodon) 480 590 535 Whale (Spinner dolphin) (Stenella longirostris) 318
Factors affecting the gestation period in mammals
There are several factors affecting the length of the gestation period in mammals. Animal size/mass
There is a positive relationship between mass at birth and length of gestation in eutherian mammals.Sacher, G. A., & Staffeldt, E. F. (1974).Relation of gestation time to brain weight for placental mammals: implications for the theory of vertebrate growth. The American Naturalist, 108(963), 593-615. Larger mammals are more likely to produce a well-developed neonate than small mammals. Large mammals develop at an absolute slower rate compared to small mammals. Thus, the large mammal tend have longer gestation periods than small mammal as they tend to produce larger neonate. Martin, R. D., Genoud, M., & Hemelrijk, C. K. (2005). Problems of allometric scaling analysis: examples from mammalian reproductive biology. Journal of Experimental Biology, 208(9), 1731-1747. Large mammals require a longer period of time to attain any proportion of adult mass compared to small mammals. Zullinger, E. M., Ricklefs, R. E., Redford, K. H., & Mace, G. M. (1984). Fitting sigmoidal equations to mammalian growth curves. Journal of Mammalogy, 65(4), 607-636.
The level of development at birth