How Long Does Pregnancy Last in Animals? 15 Proofs that Mother Nature Knows What She's Doing
1:56 PM EDT, September 26, 2021, updated: 5:43 PM EDT, September 26, 2021
The animal world is governed by its own laws. Some females give birth to young after just two weeks, while others have to be patient and wait almost two years for their offspring to appear.
Here are a dozen or so animals, starting from those with the longest gestation periods to those with the shortest.
#1 In Female Rays (A Primitive Shark) Pregnancy Lasts 3.5 Years (About 1280 Days, the Longest of Any Vertebrate)
A female gives birth to 2 to 15 young.
#2 Elephants, About 665 Days
A baby elephant weighs about 220 lb and stays with its mother for a period of two years.
#3 Arctic Walruses, About 600 Days
A female gives birth to one cub once every three years. The little one can swim right away.
#4 Giraffes, About 465 Days
A giraffe gives birth standing up. The toddler falls head down from a height of nearly two meters, but no harm is done.
#5 Arctic Whitetails, About 450 Days Old
A newborn whitetail reaches 1.5 meters in length and is darker than its mother. The toddler will turn white by age 5.
#6 Horses, About 335 Days
A mare usually gives birth to one foal. They share a very strong bond with their mother, as she teaches the toddler which plants are edible.
#7 Seals, About 280 Days Old
The female gives birth to 1-2 young. The birth takes place on land, but the baby seals are swimming freely in the ocean after just a few hours.
#8 Pandas, About 135 Days Old
Newborn pandas feed on their mother's milk, and it is not until they are about 5-6 months old that they enrich their diet with bamboo.
#9 Domestic Pig, About 115 Days Old
Gilts give birth to two litters of young per year. There are 8-12 piglets born at a time.
#10 Tigers, Approx. 110 Days
Baby tigers stay with their mother for 2 to 3 years. Only after they are gone does the female become pregnant again.
#11 Dogs, About 65 Days Old
Puppies in their first two weeks of life are completely dependent on their mother. They cannot see or hear at all for the first few days.
#12 Cats, About 63 Days Old
Pregnant cats may be nauseous and gain weight usually 1-2 kg.
#13 Guinea Pigs, About 60 Days
A pregnant guinea pig will not begin to gain weight significantly until about 5 weeks. The birth usually takes place when the owners are not at home.
#14 Seahorses, About 10-25 Days (Male Gets Pregnant!)
The female lays her eggs directly into the brood pouch, which is located on the body of the male. Approximately 1500 young seahorses can be born at one time.
#15 Virginian Danes, About 12 Days Old
A female is able to become pregnant 2-3 times a year. She gives birth to between 4 and 25 young at a time.
Did any of the animals surprise you?
