Abstract
Abstract The composition and apparent social structure of a harem school of sperm whales Physeter catodon (Linnaeus 1758) is described from a mass stranding at Muriwai Beach, New Zealand, 29 October 1974. This school contained a total of 54 female whales accompanied by 17 immature males and a solitary full‐grown bull. Evidence is provided which supports the contention that sperm whales in this region of the Pacific reach the same lengths at sexual maturity and follow a similar breeding cycle to those found elsewhere in the southern hemisphere.
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