MSC 350 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Pygmy Sperm Whale, Toothed Whale, Pygmy Right Whale

• School: University of Miami
• Department: Marine Science
• Course: MSC 350
• Professor: Jill Richardson

Document Summary

Carnivora (seals, sea lions, walruses, polar bears, sea otters: one or more species from each groups live in fresh water, not seawater, approximately 120 recognized species (95% are cetaceans and pinnipeds, land to water. Breathe through nostrils on top of head. Vascular heat exchange system conserve heat. Steller"s sea cow was larger but now extinct. Pinnipeds: seals, sea lions, walruses, characteristics. Anterior double nostrils with powerful sensory hairs. Rely primarily on vision and touch, not sound. Moderate size due to terrestrial lifestyle and gravity. One of thickest coat in animal kingdom. Mysticeti baleen whales: 14 species, blue whale to pygmy right whale, sexual dimorphism; larger females, two blowholes, filter feeders gulpers vs. skimmers. Gulpers take in water and plankton, push water back out but keep plankton. Dorsal fin is inversely proportional to size. So big that some filter feed on fish. No throat grooves so they are true filter feeders. Baleen plates are the longest of all the mysticetes.