Cetaceans - Meaning, Types and Features

The cetaceans are the marine animals most famous for their presence in ancient tales and legends.They are animals that have always aroused great interest on the part of the human being.These animals, in general, are great strangers that, little by little, are disappearing without, apparently , let's do nothing.

In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about cetaceans, which are, their characteristics, where they live and other curiosities .Do you want to know more about these inhabitants of the sea depths? Keep reading!

What are cetaceans?

The order of the cetaceans is composed of two suborders, the myxicets, formed by the bearded whales, and that of the odontocetes, composed of cetaceans with teeth, such as sperm whales, dolphins and killer whales.

The evolution of the cetaceans has resulted in a similarity between these two living suborders, being the result of evolutionary convergence.The common structural characteristics between the two groups, such as body shape, position of the nostril or spiral over the head, the absence of vocal cords and the similar shape of the lungs suggests that these species have evolved from different ancestors to animals very similar to each other.

Therefore, cetacean mammals are lung animals that inhabit our seas and oceans, although certain species live in rivers.

Characteristics of cetaceans

Cetaceans are characterized by their anatomy, morphology, physiology and habitat.The main characteristics of cetaceans are:

They exhibit an exceptionally wide range of body mass that influences oxygen storage and utilization capabilities.This prevents the appearance of hypoxia or lack of oxygen in your tissues.
During diving, your heart draws blood to the brain, lungs and muscles to allow swimming and the continuous functioning of the body.
The trachea is shorter than in terrestrial mammals and does not communicate with the esophagus.It is linked to the spiral, where they take and expel the air.
They have large reservoirs of fat to prevent hypothermia when submerged at greater depths.
The hydrodynamic shape of your body allows faster swimming and prevents the ravages of large pressure changes.
They don't have vocal cords.Instead they have an organ called melon that u San to communicate or hunt for echolocation.
They have a very thick skin whose outermost layer, epidermis, is continually renewed at great speed.
At birth, the offspring have hair, but these disappear after a few months of life.
The number of fins depends on the species, although all have pectoral and caudal fins.
Some species have teeth, all of the same size and form.Others have beards, which you use to filter the water.

Where do cetaceans live?

The habitat of the cetaceans is the aquatic environment.Sinel, his skin would dry out and die.Some cetaceans live in circumpolar waters, for example the beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas ) or the Narwhal ( Monodon monoceros ), so they are adapted to low temperatures.Others have a more tropical distribution, such as the common calderon ( Globicephala melas ) and the tropical calderon ( Globicephala macrorhynchus ).

Some of these animals live in fresh water, they are very threatened species of cetaceans due, mainly, to the contamination of rivers, the construction of dams and the discriminated hunting The list of cetaceans living in rivers is:

Bolivian dolphin ( Inia boliviensis )
Araguaia river dolphin ( Inia araguaiaensis )
Pink dolphin ( Inia geoffrensis )
Silver dolphin ( Pontoporia blainvillei )
Baiji ( Lipotes vexillifer )
Indus Dolphin ( Minor Platanist )
Delfin del Ganges ( Gangetica Platanist )

The vast majority of cetaceans make annual migrations from their feeding areas to their breeding areas.This is the moment when these animals are most unprotected.

In the image we can see a pink dolphin:

Types of cetaceans:

The cetaceans are classified into two large groups: the mycedets and the odontecets .

1.Misticetos

Mistycetes, commonly called whales, are less numerous and are characterized, mainly, by having beards instead of teeth.They are animals of an enormous size and usually live in cold waters.Some of their species have not been seen during the sightings of cetaceans for decades.The most common species of myceicets are:

Pacific Right Whale ( Eubalaena japonica )
Greenland whale ( Balaena mysticetus )
Common whale ( Balaenoptera physalus )
Blue whale ( Balaenoptera musculus )
Humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae )
Gray whale ( Eschrichtius robustus )
Pygmy right whale ( Caperea marginata )

In the picture we can see a common whale:

2.Odontocetos

Odontocetes are cetaceans with true teeth, in greater or lesser number.They are very numerous and include a good variety of species.They are all carnivorous animals .The best known species of odontocetes They are:

Calderon common ( Globicephala melas )
Southern dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus australis )
Common killer whale ( Orcinus orca )
Delfin listed ( Stenella coeruleoalba )
Bottlenose or bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus )
Atlantic dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus acutus )
Dark dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus obscurus )
Common porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena )
Vaquita marina ( Phocoena sinus )
Eyeglass porpoise ( Dioptric Phocoena )
Sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus )
Pygmy sperm whale ( Kogia breviceps )
Dwarf sperm whale ( Kogia sima )
Zinio de Blainville ( Mesoplodon densirostris )
Zifio of Gervais ( Mesoplodon europaeus )
Zifio de Gray ( Mesoplodon grayi )

In the image we can observe a common calderon:

If you want to read more articles similar to Cetaceans-Meaning, Types and Features , we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.

Bibliography

Geisler, JH,&amp ; Sanders, AE (2003).Morphological evidence for the phylogeny of Cetacea.Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 10 (1-2), 23-129.
Noren, SR,&Williams, TM (2000 ).Body size and skeletal muscle myoglobin of cetaceans: adaptations for maximizing dive duration.Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular&Integrative Physiology, 126 (2), 181-191.
Yablokov, AV (1965 ) Convergence or parallelism in the evolution of cetaceans.International Geology Review, 7 (8), 1461-1 468.

Comments

Names of animals with J in Spanish and English

Children easily learn new words and their meaning, something that Not only does it have fun, but it helps them learn new languages.English, for example, is an essential language today, due to the constant diversification and mixing of cultures among people from anywhere in the world. For this reason, we have prepared a list with names of animals that begin with "J", a great way to teach the names of animals in English to primary school children, as well as in Spanish.Do you want your little ones to know all the animals in the world? Then start with our list of animal names with J in Spanish and English , memorizing them is simple and fun! Names of animals with J in Spanish Do you know the animals with J that we bring for you on this list? Find out what they are! Jabiru It's a kind of stork of great size, it can reach 14 centimeters high and 3 meters long with the wings unfolded.It does not emit any type of sound or song, but communicates through blows that it...

14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities

What are the animals with feathers? When you think of feathers, what animals come to your head? You probably remember species such as duck, chicken, hummingbird or ruisenor.Now, do birds only have feathers? The answer to this is yes .Only birds have feathers, this is a feature that allows a species to be included in the group of birds. However, it has been shown that, in the past, some dinosaur species also developed feathers and from them the birds we know descend.Today there is still no definitive conclusion about what caused the change from scales to feathers (thinking about crocodiles, other prehistoric creatures), the different theories plan that it could be due to a process evolutionary to allow the flight of those species of dinosaurs that moved over the treetops and branches through jumps, while others point to thermal protection or attraction mechanisms during the mating season. Despite this, if there is evidence as they point to the dinosaurs belonging to the group ...

Urea high in dogs - Symptoms and treatment

Sometimes, we need to perform a blood test to our dog.It may be because he is ill and we try to reach a diagnosis or as part of a complete review, which is recommended in dogs older than seven years.Within the parameters that are analyzed in a blood test is urea. In this article by ExpertAnimal we will explain what high urea means in dogs , since it is usually the most frequent alteration of this parameter, although it may also appear low, as we will see. Urea The urea is a component of urine and is the residue generated by the metabolism of proteins that takes place in the human body, mainly in the liver .Yes, the urea present in the urine is the result of this metabolism and, also, of the breakdown of body cells. The liver is passed to the kidneys and from these the elimination takes place in the form of urine.If there is any problem in these organs it will result in alterations in the urea level.In a diet with an excess of proteins we could also find the urea eleva...

Pododermatitis in Dogs - Symptoms and Treatment (WITH PHOTOS)

What is pododermatitis in dogs? Pododermatitis is the inflammation of the interdigital spaces of the feet and hands of dogs and other animals as a result of various causes.Often, the trigger is a hit in the area or the action of a foreign body that has caused an injury.Therefore, it will be more frequent in animals that transit through forested areas or perform hunting activities, races or jumps that can damage their feet or hands.By foreign body we understand any object capable of causing injuries such as crystals, spines or stones. Causes of pododermatitis in dogs Despite the above, pododermatitis has many other causes such as the action of irritating substances responsible for contact dermatitis, the allergies , the presence of parasites , such as scabies or flea mites, or the development of fungi.Also, endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism, autoimnune or interdigital cysts are also among the list of causes of Pododermatitis in dogs.In addition, psychological problem...

How often should I change my cat's sand?

The sandbox is a tool essential for the daily hygiene of our felines.We must ensure that the cleaning we do is adequate, with the aim of preventing health problems and even behavioral problems that are related to the lack of cleaning.This very important aspect is common that doubts arise from the caretakers when choosing the sand, the sandbox itself, which is the best place to install it or how and how often to clean it. Maybe you wonder how often change the silica sand or binder, the recommended amount of sand or the frequency of complete sand change, for this reason, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will focus on explaining how much we should change the sand of our cat .We will see the importance of maintaining the hygiene of a reindeer and how to preserve it in the best conditions. The importance of the sandbox for cats From a very young age, kittens learn to use the sandbox and, except for behavioral disorders or specific diseases, they will continue to use ...

Diclofenac for dogs - Dosage and uses

The diclofenac sodium is the active substance of a a well-known drug and used under the trade name of Voltaren or Voltadol.It is a product that is used to fight pain .Has your veterinarian prescribed it for your dog? Do you have questions about its uses or doses? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about diclofenac for dogs , how this drug is used in veterinary medicine and what aspects are important to consider for its use As we always insist, this and any other medication can only be administered to a dog by veterinary prescription . Is diclofenac bad for dogs? Diclofenac is an active substance included in the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories , that is, those commonly known as NSAIDs.They are products that are prescribed for pain relief, especially related to bone joint problems .Diclofenac can be used for dogs as long as it is prescribed by the veterinarian. Veterinary use of diclofenac Diclofenac for pain in dogs is used in veterinary me...

Can I bathe my dog if I just wormed him?

When is it a first time in adopting a dog, it is normal that many doubts arise about what is best for them and when it is advisable to do everything, so Animals and Pets Online solves all the questions that arise. Deworming your dog periodically is necessary to preserve their health and avoid possible diseases from the action of microorganisms, external and internal parasites, among others.If you do not know when you should bathe your dog after a deworming , keep reading this article. Why deworm the dog? You may think that deworming is not necessary, but the truth is that thanks to it you avoid your dog much discomfort, in addition to prevent diseases transmitted by parasites . Among the main parasites, both external and internal, are ticks, fleas, lice, losacaros and intestinal worms, among many others.Pruritus, hair loss, diarrhea, tick disease, and even death in the most serious cases, they are part of the consequences that cause these beings to stay in the body of your furr...

Types of monkeys and their names

Monkeys are primates classified according to scientific jargon in the Platirrinos or monkeys of the new world and the Cercopitecoideos or monkeys of the old world.The hominoids, which would be primates that have no tail, where man enters. Animals such as orangutan, chimpance, gorilla or gibbons also do not enter the scientific classification of monkeys, since the latter, in addition to having a tail, have a more primitive skeleton and are small animals. Then you can see the scientific classification of monkeys in more detail, where you can distinguish two different parvordenes and a total of six families of monkeys, all this in this article of Animals and Pets Online.The different types of monkeys and their names you can see them below: Classification of the Simiiform infraorder To correctly understand everything about the types of monkeys we must detail that there are a total of 6 families of monkeys grouped in 2 different parvordenes. Parvorden Platyrrhini: This in...

ALL ABOUT THE FEVER IN DOGS

The fever in dogs or fever Canine is an increase in body temperature above normal values, which are between 38 and 39ºC , due, for example, to an infection or inflammation.There are different causes that cause the fever and we can easily measure it with the use of a digital thermometer. Next, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain everything you need to know about fever in dogs, causes, symptoms and treatment to be applied to lower it.That is, if you suspect that your dog may suffer from fever, we recommend you go to your trusted veterinarian to discover the cause that is causing it and the treatment indicated according to your specific case. What temperature is considered fever in dogs? Fever is an excellent defense mechanism of the body .By increasing body temperature, the immune system seeks to destroy the pathogen.Therefore, it is a immune system reaction very beneficial for the dog in the face of an illness. The normal temperature of a dog Th...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog