Sea otters are one of several species of mammals that undergo delayed implantation that allows for birth under favorable conditions and produces varied gestation times.
Sea otters are one of several species of mammals that undergo delayed implantation in which the embryo does not implant during the immediate period following fertilization, but remains in a state of suspended growth allowing for birth to occur under favorable conditions.
Delayed implantation produces varied gestation times, which has been reported as 4 to 12 months.
Orientation of the fetus may be either caudal or cephalic, although cephalic orientation is more common near birth.
• Image | ©️ Tony’s Takes, Some Rights Reserved(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
• Sources | (Allegra & Gunderson 2012; Estes, 1980; McShane, Estes, Riedman, & Staedler, 1995; Nowak, 1999; Riedman, Estes, Staedler, Giles, & Carlson, 1994)
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