Mummy’s boy male killer whales are being helped out in fights by their sprightly mothers, research has suggested, but maternal favouritism can see females left to fend for themselves.
A study of teeth marks has shown that post-menopausal female killer whales are more likely to protect their sons than their daughters in fights - although the study did not go as far as to show if the males felt any embarrassment at having their mum back them up.
