Whale
Whales represent the extreme end of K-selection: complex social structures, decades-long parental care, very few offspring, and some of the longest lifespans in the animal kingdom.
Whales represent the extreme end of K-selection: complex social structures, decades-long parental care, very few offspring, and some of the longest lifespans in the animal kingdom. They evolved this strategy because their stable ocean environments rewarded quality over quantity.
In business terms, whales are the ultimate enterprise companies - massive, long-lived, slow to change, but dominant in their environment when conditions are stable.
Notable Traits of Whale
- Long lifespan
- Complex social structures
- Decades-long parental care
- Few offspring
- Enhanced DNA repair mechanisms
- Low cancer rates despite extreme body size
- Some species live 200+ years
- High parental investment
Whale Appears in 2 Chapters
Demonstrates evolved DNA repair mechanisms managing mutation consequences in large, long-lived organisms.
Explore how whales solve Peto's Paradox through enhanced repair systems →Represents K-selection with complex social structures, long parental care, and high per-offspring investment.
See how whales achieve success through extreme parental investment →