Lecture 20- Whales Flashcards
1
Q
pakicetus
A
- earliest whale
- looked like a wolf or dog
- hoofed, looks like a deer’s leg
- special ear bone is found only for cetaceans
2
Q
ambulocetus
A
- walking whale
- early cetacean that could walk as well as swim
- lived during early 49-50 million years ago
- transitional fossils that show how whales evolved from land living mammals
3
Q
rodhocetus
A
- middle eocene 46-47 million years ago
- was still able to walk on land though not very well
4
Q
dorudon
A
- lived during Eocene about 36-40 million years ago
- 5 meters in length
- carnivore
- couldn’t go on land, tiny hind legs
- very similar to modern whale
5
Q
basilosaurus
A
- same time as dorudon
- small hind legs
- cone shaped teeth in front and triangular shaped teeth in back
6
Q
baleen whales (mysticetes)
A
- large filter feeders
- example: humpback
7
Q
means by which baleen are used
A
- gulp feeding
- skim feeding
- bottom plowing
8
Q
odontocetes
A
- toothed whales
- example: orca whale
9
Q
pacific humpback migration
A
- summer: feeding at high latitudes
- winter: calving at low latitudes, usually warm but low or no food
10
Q
pacific grey whale migration
A
along the west coast of North and South America
11
Q
vocalization in whales: odontocetes
A
- produce rapid bursts of clicks and whistles
- single clicks are used for echolocation
12
Q
vocalization in whales: baleen
A
- often make the long, low frequency sounds known as the whale song
13
Q
sources of anthropogenic sound in the ocean
A
- commercial shipping: engine and propeller noise
- naval operations: low frequency active sonar
- oil exploration: seismic surveys with explosive air guns/cannons
14
Q
which animal would you least want to eat?
A
dog
15
Q
Which countries still hunt whales?
A
- japan
- iceland
- norway
