Organ Weights of Non-Captive Porpoise (Stenella spp.)

Abstract

Weights of heart, lungs, liver, kidney, and spleen of 68 eastern Pacific spotted porpoise (Stenella graffmani) and 14 eastern Pacific spinner porpoise (S. cf. S. longirostris) are presented and related to total body weight. Values of Huxley's growth coefficient α are presented. Adult female spoiled porpoise have on the average smaller spleens than adult males; a hypothesis of suppression of antibody production in pregnant females is suggested.