1993), and have already molted their lanugo in utero (Oftedal et al. 1991). The advanced state of maturity at birth in the hooded seal is GSK1120212 ic50 likely an adaptation to pupping on unstable pack ice and has the selective advantage of minimizing the period of maternal dependence to less than four days (Bowen et al. 1985, Oftedal et al. 1993). In the hooded seal, neonatal brM is about 52%–58% of maternal brM, i.e., MF is 1.7–1.9 (Table 3). By comparison with hooded seals, newborn Weddell seals appear considerably less precocial: they are smaller (6%–7%

of maternal BM), have higher hydration of lean mass (RE, WRH, ADM and OTO, unpublished data), little body fat (Elsner et al. 1977), and retain the lanugo for several weeks postnatum. Lactation is also prolonged compared to most phocids, lasting about 6 wk (Kaufmann et al. 1975, Eisert et al. 2013). However, neonatal brM is relatively greater in the Weddell seal (ca. 70% of maternal brM, MF = 1.4; Table 3) than in the hooded seal. A few species of otariids have also been studied (Table 3). The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is born at a similar relative BM (6.6%

of maternal BM) but has a proportionately less developed brain (44%–50% of maternal brM, equivalent to an MF of 2.0–2.3) than the Weddell seal (Sacher and Staffeldt 1974, Bininda-Emonds and Gittleman 2000). also The northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) and check details Antarctic fur seal (Arctophoca gazella) are both large at birth (13%–15% of maternal BM; Payne 1979, Boltnev and York 2001, Schulz and Bowen 2005), but even so, their brains account for only 56%–66% of maternal brM (MF of 1.5–1.8; Table 3). In summary, these data indicate that the Weddell seal brain at birth has developed to a greater extent, relative to degree of somatic maturity, than the brains of other pinniped neonates that have been studied. The

brains of neonatal odontocetes (35%–57% of adult brM; MF = 1.8–2.8) appear to be similar to, or somewhat less developed than, those of pinnipeds (Table 3). Species with a relative birth mass similar to Weddell seals (6%–7% of adult BM; Stenella attenuata, Orcinus orca) have neonatal brains that are just 40%–53% of adult brM (Table 3). However, Marino (1999) estimated brM of “neonatal” harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) to be 85%–90% of adult brM, based on CC of museum specimens. Given an adult mean brM of ~496 g in harbor porpoises (McLellan et al. 2002, Marino et al. 2004; Table 3), this corresponds to an MF of <1.25 and a neonatal brM of ~430 g. This estimate not only exceeds the ~200 g previously reported for neonatal brM in harbor porpoises (Sacher and Staffeldt 1974), but also the mean fresh brain mass of 392 g of older porpoise calves (mean calf BL 112 cm; McLellan et al. 2002).