title: Phenomenal advanced age of pupping in a captive Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi).
abstract: To better define the life history in the captive environment, we describe the reproductive history and advanced age of pupping of a female Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) at the Henry Vilas Zoo (HVZ) in Madison, Wisconsin. This female gave birth to a viable pup on May 16, 2012, at the age of 42 years and is the oldest documented birth reported for this species. This female also demonstrated high temporal fidelity to her previously described birth timing. The pup's sire was also 42 years at the time of birth. Captive harbor seals can remain reproductively healthy into their 5th decade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Temte
authors.affiliation: Conservation Education Curator, Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flynn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D046049:Phoca / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014922:Wisconsin
keywords: Phocids; Pinnipeds; birth timing; maternal age; reproduction