Gestation Periods for Animals: How Long Do Animals Take to Give Birth?

Below are the average gestation periods of most animal species or groups, listed from most to least. All gestational ages are given on a daily basis.

• Asian Elephant (Elephas Maximus): 616
• Sperm Whale (Physeter Macrocephalus): 530
• Black Rhinoceros (Diceros Bicornis): 450
• Giraffe (Giraffa): 435
• Camel (Camelus): 390
• Zebra (Equus Quagga): 375
• Donkey (Equus Asinus): 365
• Alpaca (Vicugna Pacos): 355
• Sea Lion (Otariinae): 350
• Horse (Equus Caballus): 335
• Llama (Lama Glama): 330
• Seal (Pinnipedia): 330

National Geographic

• Cow (Bos Taurus): 285
• Human (Homo Sapiens): 270^[1]
• Gorilla (Gorilla): 257
• Elk (Cervus Canadensis): 245
• European Fallow Deer (Dama Dama): 245
• Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus): 241
• Chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes): 240
• Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus Amphibius): 235
• American Black Bear (Ursus Americanus): 220
• American Bison (Bison Bison): 217
• Brown Bear (Ursus Arctos): 215
• White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus): 201
• Baboon (Papio): 187
• Rhesus Monkey (Macaca Mulatta): 164
• Goat (Capra Aegagrus Hircus): 150
• Sheep (Ovis Aries): 147
• Pig (Sus Scrofa Domesticus): 114
• Hedgehog (Erinaceinae): 112
• Chinchilla (Chinchilla): 110

National Geographic

• Lion (Panthera Leo): 108
• Tiger (Panthera Tigris): 107
• Leopard (Panthera Pardus): 94
• Puma (Puma Concolor: 90
• Otter (Lutrinae): 75
• Guinea Pig (Cavia Porcellus): 65
• American Mink (Neovison Vison): 55
• Wolf (Canis Lupus): 65
• Cat (Felis Catus): 64
• Racoon (Procyon Lotor): 63
• Dog (Canis Lupus Familiaris): 61

National Geographic - In the Womb: Animals by Michael Sims

• Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes): 52
• European Mink (Mustela Lutreola): 50
• Kangaroo (Macropodidae): 42
• Mountain Weasel (Mustela Altaica): 41
• Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis): 35
• European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): 32
• Squirrel (Sciuridae): 31
• Muskrat (Ondatra Zibethicus): 29
• Wombat (Vombatidae): 27
• Gerbillus (Gerbillus): 23
• Rat (Rattus): 22
• Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus Hudsonius): 21
• Fancy Mouse (Mus Musculus Domestica): 19
• Hamster (Cricetinae): 18
• American Opossum (Didelphidae): 12

It is possible to extend the list. However, it is known that the gestation periods of popular animal species are in this range. Of course, these are average numbers and there are likely to be some deviations from these numbers. But you can use it as a reference.

The human gestation period is technically 280 days. However, studies show that only 4% of human females give birth in 280 days. In fact, only 70% of all pregnancies occur between 270-290 days. Mostly, pregnancy lasts around 270 days. You can get more information here.^[1]