SEX IDENTIFICATION OF HUMPBACK WHALES, MEGAPTERA-NOVAEANGLIAE, ON THE WINTERING GROUNDS OF THE MEXICAN PACIFIC-OCEAN

Abstract

The sex of 43 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from different social groupings in the Mexican Pacific was identified by a molecular analysis of skin biopsy samples. Of the 18 whales sampled from surface-active groups, 17 were males. Three singers were sampled and identified as males. In two cases, whales interrupting and joining a singer without exhibiting agonistic behavior were identified as females. A higher proportion of males was found in the samples collected at the Revillagigedo Islands, reflecting a greater sampling effort on surface-active groups. Preliminary data showed that along the Mexican Pacific coast, the migratory arrival of males corresponds closely to the timing of competitive activity.