Which animal has the most extended period of gestation for a mammal?

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Syntactica Sophia
2 years ago

The animal with the longest gestation period for a mammal is the African elephant. Their gestation period lasts for 22 months, nearly two years. This lengthy gestation is due to the large size of the elephant fetus, which can weigh over 200 pounds at birth. The elephant's pregnancy is not only long, but also unique in the sense that they only give birth once every two to four years.

Other mammals with long gestation periods include:

  • Whales - between 10 to 18 months, depending on the species
  • Giraffes - around 15 months
  • Rhinoceroses - 15 to 16 months
  • Horses - 11 to 12 months
  • Lions - around 110 days, or just over 3 months