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Menopause explains why some female whales live so long

Posted on 13 March 2024

Females of some whale species have evolved to live drastically longer lives so they can care for their families, new research involving a University of York academic shows.

The researh showed that whales and humans show remarkably similar life histories

The study focused on five whale species that – along with humans – are the only mammals known to go through menopause.

The findings show that females of these whale species that experience menopause live around 40 years longer than other female whales of a similar size.

By living longer without extending their “reproductive lifespan” (the years in which they breed), these females have more years to help their children and grandchildren, without increasing the “overlap” period when they compete with their daughters by breeding and raising calves at the same time.

Whales and humans

This new research shows that – despite being separated by 90 million years of evolution – whales and humans show remarkably similar life histories, which have evolved independently.

The study was carried out by the universities of York and Exeter, and the Center for Whale Research.

Professor Dan Franks, from the University of York’s Department of Biology and one of the authors of the paper, said: “Previous research on menopause evolution has tended to focus on single species, typically humans or killer whales. 

“This study is the first to cross several species, enabled by the recent discovery of menopause in multiple species of toothed whales. Our study provides evidence that menopause evolved by expanding female lifespan beyond their reproductive years, rather than from reduced reproductive lifespan. 

“This is a question that has long been asked in anthropology, but can only be directly answered with a comparative study."

Future generations

Lead author, Dr Sam Ellis, from the University of Exeter added:“The process of evolution favours traits and behaviours by which an animal passes its genes to future generations.

“The most obvious way for a female to do this is to breed for the entire lifespan – and this is what happens in almost all animal species. There are more than 5,000 mammal species, and only six are known to go through menopause.

“So the question is: how and why did menopause evolve? Our study provides some of the answers to this fascinating puzzle.”

Five species

Menopause is known to exist in five species of toothed whale: short-finned pilot whales, false killer whales, killer whales, narwhals and beluga whales.

As well as outliving females of other similar-sized species, females in these five species outlive the males of their own species. For example, female killer whales can live into their 80s, while males are typically dead by 40.

“The evolution of menopause and a long post-reproductive life could only happen in very specific circumstances,” said Professor Darren Croft, from the University of Exeter.

“Firstly, a species must have a social structure in which females spend their lives in close contact with their offspring and grand-offspring.

“Secondly, the females must have an opportunity to help in ways that improve the survival chances of their family. For example, female toothed whales are known to share food and use their knowledge to guide the group to find food when it is in short supply.”

Life histories

Commenting on parallels with the evolution of menopause in humans, Professor Croft added: “It’s fascinating that we share this life history with a taxonomic group we’re so different from.

“Despite these differences, our results show that humans and toothed whales show convergent life history – just like in humans, menopause in toothed whales evolved by selection to increase the total lifespan without also extending their reproductive lifespan.”

The study, published in Nature, was funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

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