R.J. Tarpley, DVM, PhD; G. Jarrell, MS; J.C. George, BS; T. Albert, VMD,
PhD
Anatomic examination of two bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus)
revealed an unusual combination of reproductive structures. Although the external phenotype
appeared female, the gonads were found to be underdeveloped testes. In the more thoroughly
studied of the two whales all derivatives of the mesonephric (Wolffian) and paramesonephric
(Mullerian) ducts were absent and there was an apparently normal male karyotype (40 autosomes +
XY). These findings appear consistent with a form of male pseudohermaphroditism known as
testicular feminization (or androgen insensitivity syndrome) as reported in other species.