2021 Volume 3 Pages 231-238
Tail flukes of the Antarctic minke whale fetuses were studied to expand the available knowledge on fetal development, which is relatively understudied, as previous studies are qualitative in nature. Seven measurement points on the tail flukes of 122 fetuses (after conception 12.9 to 259.5 days) were recorded. We quantitatively defined the developmental stages based on the measurements. Tail flukes formed after an estimated fetal age of 57.8 days (9.4 cm) and retained almost the same shape as postnatal at 124.6 days (47.3 cm). The results also revealed that the growth rates differed at each measurement point and each developmental stage.
