Postnatal growth rate and adult body weight in mammals

Pontier, D.; Gaillard, J. M.; Allainé, D.; Trouvilliez, J.; Gordon, I.; Duncan, P.

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Postnatal growth rate and adult body weight in mammals

Date

1989

Authors

Abstract

It is argued that the postnatal growth rate should be linked to maternal body weight by the exponent 0.75. This theoretically derived hypothesis is found to be consistent with published data on the growth rates of mammals in nine orders. We emphasize the importance of defining the taxonomic level and period for which postnatal growth rates are measured.