Developmental changesinthe
body proportionsof
western North Pacific Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera
edeni) wereinvestigated
by examining the proportion of each body part to the total body length. The
head and chest region increased to a certain body length;subsequently, the length
of head region stabilized,and
that of the chest region decreased. The length of the abdominal region remainedconstant to a certain body
length and subsequentlyshowed
a marked increase, andthat of
the tail region decreased consistently. The length of dorsal fin and flukes
decreased consistently,whereas
that ofthe
flippersremainedconstant to a certain body
length and subsequentlydecreased.
The relative growth pattern determined by an allometricanalysis was positive for the head region but
negative for the lower body part, flippers, flukes, and dorsal fin. Both sexesdemonstratedthe same growth pattern,
but the coefficients differed. This is the first study to investigate
developmental changes
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