9/15/2011 9:10:00 AM
PSL280 – Lecture 1
-adaptive processes of marine mammals
What is a marine mammal?
-any aquatic mammal that spends part or all of its life in water ( fresh &
marine salt water)
-currently approximately 126 living species used to be 128 but 2 species
went extinct , depends on classification
Number of Specices ( approx)
36 pinnipeds ( seals sea lions walrus)
84 cetaceans ( whales dolphins porpoise
4 sirenians ( manatee , dugong)
1 sea marine otter
1 polar bear
Order Mammalia
sub -order- pinnipedia
3 famililes
Family #1
Phocidae –true or earless seals
Ex.harbour seals
Family #2
Otariidae
Eared seals
Ex.sea lions
Family #3
Obobenidae ear selas
Ex.walrus
Order Cetacea
2 sub-orders
sub-order #1
Odontoceti
Toothed Whales
Teeth & 1 blow hole while swimming more efficient to just put your head
over water with ur blow hole to take breath
Ex. beluga whale
Sub-order#2
Mysticeti
Baleen whales
No teeth & 2 blow holes
Ex.humpback whale
Order- Sirenians
4 families
family #1
Trichechidae
Manatee (3 species)
Family #2
Dugongidae
Dugong ( 1 species) vaccum cleaner
Order- Carnivora
Family – Mustilidae
Sea/marine otter
Family usridae
Polar bear
Class: mammalia
Suborder
Family
Some general adaptations
When compared to humans/terrestrial mammals, marine mammals have: