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Marine Mammal Biology > Intro and taxonomy > Flashcards

Intro and taxonomy Flashcards

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0
Q

Moving from land

A

can’t breathe underwater, increased loss of heat through integument, viscosity, altered characteristics of sound propagation, low light conditions

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1
Q

3 orders of marine mammals

A

Cetacea, Sirenia, Carnivora

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2
Q

Features they share (5)

A
  1. occupy/rely on marine habitats (degree of adaptation relates to amount of time spent in water)
  2. similar anatomical features: large body size, streamlined shape, insulation (blubber or fur, or both), decrease in presence and size of appendages
  3. similar physiological adaptations to thrive in aquatic environment (e.g. diving, thermoregulation, orientation)
  4. Most/many are, or have historically been, deliberately exploited.
  5. others decimated by incidental takes and habitat destruction/ modification
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3
Q

Cetacea shared characteristics

A
  1. breathe through nostrils on top of head
  2. breath hold capacity - increased
  3. thick blubber
  4. large size
  5. vascular heat exchange system
  6. smooth skin
  7. reduction of appendages
  8. broad, horizontal tail flukes
  9. dorsal fin
  10. some (odontocetes) have advanced sound processing capabilities
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4
Q

Sirenia shared characteristics

A
  1. paired nostrils; anterior on head
  2. dense skeletal bones
  3. no echolocation/less sensitive hearing
  4. dentition - mastication
  5. moderate size (excluding Steller’s sea cow – 8 m/7000 lbs)
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5
Q

Pinniped shared characteristics

A
  1. modified hind limbs
  2. most have dense fur
  3. streamlined, fusiform body shape
  4. dentition - differentiated teeth
  5. rely primarily on vision and touch (vs. sound)
  6. exceptional diving capabilities
  7. moderate size (largest: elephant seal – 4 m/5000 lbs)
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6
Q

Polar bear intro

A
  1. capable of slow, sustained swimming 2. hollow hair fibers (buoyancy)
  2. long legs
  3. specialist predators of seals
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7
Q

Sea otter intro

A
  1. eat benthic molluscs and crustaceans

2. hind feet - large, flipper-like
3. one of thickest coats in animal kingdom

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8
Q

Mysticeti intro

A

• 14 species
size: blue whale - pygmy right whale (6.1 m)
• sexual dimorphism - females larger
• two blowholes
• filter feeders - gulpers vs. skimmers
• teeth replaced by baleen - triangular plates of fibers (keratin); diameterdiet
• passive feeders - less developed musculature

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9
Q

Balanopteridae intro

A

sleek - “greyhounds of the sea”
- dorsal fin: present and inversely proportional to size
- long, distinct ventral grooves
- baleen short and wide

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10
Q

Balaidae intro

A

large with huge mouths
- no dorsal fin
- no throat grooves (true filter feeders) - baleen is longest of all mysticetes
- callosities

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11
Q

Neobalaenidae intro

A

smaller and sleeker with similar head shape - falcate dorsal fin

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12
Q

Eschrichtidae intro

A

2-5 throat grooves
- small dorsal fin followed by ridges/knuckles
- unique bottom feeding (suck food and water in)

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13
Q

Odontoceti intro

A

approximately 70 species (10 families)
• whales, dolphins (including river dolphins), and porpoises • great range in size (largest = sperm whale  males = 15 m) • all have teeth but not erupted in some
• single blowhole (offset to L)
• echolocation
• sexual dimorphism - males larger (in most cases)

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14
Q
  1. Family Physeteridae - sperm whale
A
  • extreme sexual dimorphism
  • deep divers (2000+ m/90+ min. breath hold)
  • short/squat dorsal followed by ridges
  • huge head  spermaceti organ (NOT homologous to the melon)
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15
Q
  1. Family Kogiidae - dwarf and pygmy sperm whales (2 living spp.)
A
  • smaller (3.3 m and 2.7 m)
  • v. similar appearance/different proportions - distinctively short heads
  • spermaceti organ
16
Q
  1. Family Monodontidae - narwhal and beluga
A
  • no dorsal fin
  • Monodon monoceros - male - long, spiraling tusk (tooth)
  • Delphinapterus leucas - all white color; peg-like teeth; “sea canary”
17
Q

Family Ziphiidae - beaked whales

A
  • small - medium with narrow rostrum
  • notch in flukes lacking
  • 2 throat grooves - “V”
  • 2-4 teeth (severely reduced dentition); erupt in males
  • ex. Strap-toothed whales (Mesoplodon layardii) – two flattened teeth curve over rostrum
18
Q

Family Delphinidae - largest and most diverse group (~ 35 spp./17 genera)

A
  • range from smallest (Hector’s = 1.2 m) to largest (killer whale - 9m)
  • “blackfish” - colloquial name for 6, similar species: killer whale, false killer whale, pygmy killer whale, 2 pilot whales, melon-headed whale (dark color, decreased dentition, no beak)
  • rest share typical “dolphin” shape: distinct beak, prominent dorsal, 20+ pairs of teeth; 2+ fused vertebrae
  • ex.s - Cephalorhynchus spp. (4 of them), northern and southern right whale dolphins, Irrawaddy dolphin
19
Q

Family Phocoenidae - porpoises (6 species)

A
  • small and lacking beak
  • spatulate teeth
  • small (or no = finless porpoise) dorsal
20
Q
  1. Families of river dolphins (one species each)
A
  1. Family Platanistidae (South Asian river dolphins) – Platanista gangetica 8. Family Iniidae (Amazon river dolphins) – boto; differentiated dentition! 9. Family Lipotidae (Chinese river dolphins) - baiji
  2. Family Pontoporiidae (La Plata dolphin)
21
Q

Family Trichechidae - manatees

A
  • Trichechus manatus (West Indian manatee), T. senegalensis (West African manatee), and T. inunguis (Amazonian manatee)
  • slow moving (fluke - paddle), warm water, herbivorous - maneuverable forelimbs
22
Q

Family Dugongidae - dugongs

A
  • more well-developed musculature - flukes more dolphin-like
  • obligate bottom feeders
  • males have pair of tusks
23
Q

Family Odobenidae - walrus (1 species; 2 subspecies)

A
  • long, external tusks (males and females - sexual dimorphism) - highly enervated muzzlebottom feeders
  • thick, warty skin (~ 4 cm) and ample blubber (5-10 cm)
  • no external ears
24
Q

Family Otariidae - eared seals (fur seals and sea lions) - 16 spp./7 genera

A
  • external ear flaps (pinnae)
  • long, hairless flippers with splayed digits and vestigial nails - rotatable hind flippers - “walk” on land
  • pronounced sexual dimorphism and polygynous
25
Q

Family Phocidae - true seals - most diverse (13 genera)

A
  • lack pinnae
  • shorter, haired forelimbs
  • non-rotatable hind limbs
  • less pronounced sexual dimorphism - highly diverse color patterns
26
Q

Family Ursidae - polar bears

A
  • hollow, transparent fur/black skin and thick blubber
  • continuous swimming; limited diving
  • streamlined compared to terrestrial bears (no should hump, small ears and head, long neck)
  • large paws with non-retractable claws
27
Q

Family Mustelidae - sea otters

A
  • extremely dense fur
  • skin flap for food storage - horizontally flattened tail - can dive up to 180 ft

Marine Mammal Biology (4 decks)

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