whales & dolphins Flashcards
What kingdom are whales and dolphins?
animalia
What phylum are whales and dolphins?
chordata (backbone)
What class are whales and dolphins?
mamalia
What order are whales and dolphins?
cetacea
What are the two subcategories of Cetacea?
mysticeti, odontoceti
mysticeti
baleen
baleen
mysticeti
odontoceti
toothed
toothed
odontoceti
What is the order Cetacea?
live, breed, rest, and carry out all of their life functions in the water
migration
a pattern of behavior in which animals travel from one habitat to another in search of food, better conditions, or reproductive needs
a pattern of behavior in which animals travel from one habitat to another in search of food, better conditions, or reproductive needs
migration
How do cetaceans reduce drag for fast swimming?
- fusiform body
- paddle-shaped front limbs
- no external digits or claws
- tail flattened laterally and bearing horizontal flukes at the tip
- vestigial ear pinnae
- hairless body
- thick subcutaneous blubber layer filled with fat and oil
What is a fusiform body?
tapered at both ends
blowhole
external nares on top of head
external nares on top of head
blowhole
How many blowholes do Odontoceti have?
one
How many blowholes do mysticeti have?
two
What are common behaviors of whales?
- breaching
- spy hopping
- lunge feeding
- skim feeding
breaching
jumping out of the water
jumping out of the water
breaching
spyhopping
vertically moving head out of water to view surroundings
lunge feeding
consuming a large quantity of prey and water after a high speed horizontal or vertical propulsion
vertically moving head out of water to view surroundings
spyhopping
consuming a large quantity of prey and water after a high speed horizontal or vertical propulsion
lunge feeding
skim feeding
swimming through prey on surface with mouth open
swimming through prey on surface with mouth open
skim feeding
mysteceti
most of the largest cetaceans
most of the largest cetaceans
mysteceti
What is the largest animal in history?
blue whale
What is the smallest mysticeti?
pygmy right whale