When do dolphins reach sexual maturity?
The age at sexual maturity varies greatly in bottlenose dolphins between regions and populations. Sexual maturity is usually a function of size, not age. A female typically reaches sexual maturity when she has attained 85-95% of her mean adult body length. This ranges from 7-12 years, depending on the population. Males attain sexual maturity later than females, typically occurring between 10-15 years.
