Aquatic mammals - Characteristics and examples

All living beings on the planet have their origin in the aquatic environment .Throughout evolutionary history, mammals have been changing and adapting to conditions on the surface of the earth until, several million years ago, some submerged themselves in the oceans and rivers, adapting to life under these conditions.

In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about aquatic mammals, better known as marine mammals, since it is in the seas where a greater number of species of this type They inhabit.Discover the characteristics of these animals and some examples.

Characteristics of aquatic mammals

The life of mammals in water is very different from that of terrestrial mammals.In order to survive in this environment, they have had to acquire special characteristics during their evolution.

Water is a much denser environment than air and, in addition, offers greater resistance, so aquatic mammals have an extremely aerodynamic body that allows them to cope easily.Develop fins similar to those of fish has been a significant morphological change.It allows them to increase speed, direct swimming and communicate.

Water is a medium that absorbs much more heat than air, for This, the aquatic mammals have a thick layer of fat under a hard and robust skin , which keep them isolated from these heat losses.when they live in very cold areas of the planet.Some marine mammals have hair, because certain vital functions are carried out outside the water, such as reproduction.

Those marine mammals that, in certain periods of their lives, inhabit the great depths, have developed other organs to be able to live in the darkness, like the sonar .The sense of sight in these ecosystems is not subtle, because sunlight does not reach that depth.

Like all mammals, these aquatic animals have mammary glands that produce milk for their offspring, sweat glands and gestate on their progeny inside their body.

Breathing of aquatic mammals

Aquatic mammals need air to breathe .Therefore, they take large amounts of air and keep it inside their lungs for long periods of time, when they submerge after taking air, are able to redirect blood to the brain, heart and skeletal muscle.Their muscles have a large concentration of a protein called myoglobin , capable of accumulating large amounts of oxygen.

In this way, aquatic animals are able to remain considerable periods of time without taking air.The young and newborn babies do not have this capacity developed, so they will need to take air more times than the rest of the group.

Types of aquatic mammals

Most species of aquatic mammals live in the marine environment.There are three orders of aquatic mammals: cetacea, carnivora and sirenia.

Order cetacea

Inside of the cetacea order, the most representative species are whales, dolphins, sperm whales, killer whales and porpoises .The cetaceans evolved from a species of terrestrial carnivorous ungulate more than 50 million years ago.The cetacea order Divide into three suborders (one of them extinct):

Archaeoceti : predecessor terrestrial quadruped animals of the current (extinct) cetaceans.
Mysticeti : they are whales with beards.They are carnivorous animals without teeth that take large puffs of water, then filter it through their beards and with the tongue collect the trapped fish.
Odontoceti : Dolphins, killer whales, porpoises and zifios are included here.It is a very diverse group, although its main characteristic l is that they have teeth.In this group we can find the pink dolphin ( Inia geoffrensis ), a kind of mammal aquatic river.

Carnival order

In the carnival order, we include seals, sea lions and walruses , although they could also include to the sea otter and polar bears.This group of animals appeared about 15 million years ago and are believed to be closely related to mustelids and asses (bears).

Order sirenia

Elultimo order, sirenia, includes dugongs and manatees .These animals have evolved from the tetiteriums, animals very similar to the elephants that appeared about 66 million years ago.The dugongs inhabit Australia and, manatees, in Africa and America.

List of examples of aquatic mammals and their names

Cetacea order

Mysticeti:

Greenland Whale ( Balaena mysticetus )
Whale Southern right ( Eubalaena australis )
Glacial free whale ( Eubalaena glacialis )
Pacific free whale ( Eubalaena japonica )
Common Rorcual ( Balaenoptera physalus )
Rorcual sei or borealis (Balaenoptera borealis)
Rorcual de Bryde (Balaenoptera brydei)
Tropical whale (Balaenoptera edeni)
Great blue whale or blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
Aliblanco, dwarf or common minke ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
Rorcual austral or Antarctic minke (Balaenoptera bonaerensis)
Rorcual of Omura (Balaenoptera omurai)
Yubarta or humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae )
Gray whale ( Eschrichtius robustus )
Pygmy whale ( Caperea marginata )

Odontoceti:

Tonina overa ( Cephalorhynchus commersonii )
Heaviside dolphin ( Cephalorhynchus heavisidii )
Coastal common dolphin ( Delphinus capensis )
Pygmy killer whale ( Feresa attenuata )
Calderon common ( Globicephala melas )
Risso's dolphin ( Grampus griseus )
Fraser dolphin ( Lagenodelphis hosei )
Atlantic dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus acutus )
Northern dolphin without fin ( Lissodelphis borealis )
Common killer whale ( Orcinus orca )
Hong Kong pink dolphin ( Sousa chinensis )
Delfin listed ( Stenella coeruleoalba )
Bottlenose or bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus )
Boto, Amazon dolphin, pink dolphin ( Inia geoffrensis )
Baiji, Chinese river dolphin ( Lipotes vexillifer )
Silver Dolphin ( Pontoporia blainvillei )
Beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas )
Narval ( Monodon monoceros )

Carnival order

Seal Mediterranean monk ( Monachus monachus )
Northern sea elephant ( Mirounga angustirostris )
Leopard seal ( Hydrurga leptonyx )
Common or harbor seal ( Phoca vitulina )
Australian and South African sea lion ( Arctocephalus pusillus )
Guadeloupe sea bear ( Arctophoca philippii townsendi )
Steller's sea lion ( Eumetopias jubatus )
California sea lion ( Zalophus californianus )
Sea otter ( Enhydra lutris )
Polar bear ( Ursus maritimus )

Sirenia order

Dugongo ( Dugong dugon )
Caribbean Manati ( Trichechus manatus )
Amazonian Manati ( Trichechus inunguis )
African Manati ( Trichechus senegalensis )

If you want to read more articles similar to Aquatic mammals-Features and examples , we recommend that you enter our Curiosity section It's from the animal world.

References

https://basicbiology.net/animal/mammals/marine

Bibliography

Irving, L.1973.Comparative Physiology of Thermoregulation.ACADEMIC PRESS, INC.2: 47-96.

Kramer, DL1988.The behavioral ecology of air breathing by aquatic animals.Canadian Journal of Zoology, 66 (1 ): 89-94.

Comments

How to know what size a mongrel dog will be?

When we talk about a mixed breed dog or mixed breed dog , generally we refer to a dog whose ancestry is unknown and that has typical characteristics of two or more breeds.This is usually the result of a non-selective breeding, but generally fortunate, since a mongrel dog can be exactly as good companion as a dog of a certain breed. Due to numerous factors, although here it is worth highlighting the great genetic variability, there are many advantages of having a mongrel dog and it is important to emphasize this point since unfortunately it is usually grant a lower value to a dog of these characteristics.If you are thinking of adopting a mixed breed dog, you are surely gathering all the necessary information, if you are wondering how to know what size a mongrel dog will be I didn't leave It is to read this article of Animals and Pets Online. Is it possible to know the size of a mongrel dog? Of course, estimating the exact size of a mongrel dog is not an easy task, although ...

How camels survive in the desert

Who has not seen a movie in which camels came across a long and endless desert? What you have never wondered is how camels survive in the desert considering they have to endure very extreme temperatures. These animals have adapted their morphology to be able to live in the habitats of which they are native.If you are curious about how it is possible for a camel to resist these journeys through the desert, do not forget to read this article of Animals and Pets Online. Types of Camels Before commenting on how camels survive in the desert, we should start by differentiating the two types of camels that exist: the camel of Arabia or dromedary and the Bactrian camel or originating in Asia. The main difference between these two animals is that the camel has two humps while the dromedary has only one. However, this is not the only inequality.I recommend you read this article where we explain all the differences between a camel and a dromedary. Dromedary or camel according to ...

The most curious courtship rituals in animals

According to natural law, both animals and humans are in constant search for a couple with which to mate in order to reproduce.For this there is a whole process, first, there is the selection of the subject, then the courtship and finally the crossing of the goal. Love is everywhere, even in the animal kingdom. Animals kiss , hug, pamper, feel jealous and even quarrel.In the wild world there are all kinds of couples, depending on the species, there are stable unions, one-time meetings, seasonal or even links for a lifetime. One of the most key part in this process is sexual or bridal courtship.As nothing is free, Male animals should also strive to achieve the attention of their possible female, and for this, they perform multiple and curious rituals where they exhibit in all its galas, abilities and aptitudes.In Animals and Pets Online, as we love animals, we want to show you 5 of the most curious courtship rituals in animals . What is sexual or bridal courtship? Sexual cou...

My dog is obsessed with food

Understanding the origin of dogs can be useful to understand a little better the obsession some have with food.How can we see in "Does the dog descend from the wolf?" From Animals and Pets Online, dogs come from domestication, by humans, of common ancestors with wolves. Most canids, such as wolves and dogs, live in organized societies with a very defined hierarchy, which does not always have to be static.Wolves hunt in groups and higher-ranking individuals eat first, leaving the worst parts of the prey for lesser wolves. This is a Competitive feeding , that is, they eat ravenously when there are other individuals present.This could help clarify the cause of our pet not allowing any opportunity to obtain food, and trying to eat as quickly as possible possible, to prevent someone from taking away the food. Some diseases can explain this obsession with food in dogs. Some examples s tend to eat more for poor production of substances necessary for the digestion of fo...

Commensalism - Definition, types and examples

In nature there are symbiotic relationships between the different organisms to achieve an end.There are relationships where one of the parties obtains very negative results, as in cases of predation or parasitism.In other relationships, sometimes, not even everyone involved knows that they are part of a relationship.This is the case of commensalism. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will discover the definition of commensalism, we will see what types exist and some examples of commensalism.Keep reading! What is commensalism? Biological commensalism is defined as the relationship between two organisms of different species, where one of them benefits and the other does not get anything , neither positive nor negative.of the relationship for one of them is neutral. Commensalism is a type of symbiosis that, unlike others, such as parasitism or predation, does not result in a negative ending for any of the parties involved On the other hand, the difference between mut...

My hedgehog does not eat - Causes and solutions

If you have a hedgehog as a pet you will know that Obesity is a problem that occurs frequently in these animals.A healthy and balanced diet will help prevent this problem.However, sometimes you may notice that your hedgehog stops eating or dramatically reduces its feeding.This may be caused for several diseases or for a bad diet. If you want to know the causes that cause your hedgehog to not eat , keep reading this article from Animals and Pets Online and discover it to solve the problem as soon as possible possible and offer you a full and happy life. Hedgehog feeding Hedgehogs are omnivorous animals in captivity, they feed on fruits, vegetables, but mainly insects and small animals.They are classified as insectivorous because their diet in the wild is based on insects and small vertebrates and invertebrates.However, as we have just said, in captivity your diet also includes fruits and vegetables that provide vitamins. In captivity you can feed with high quality cat feed ...

My papillero parakeet doesn't want to eat

There are many and very diverse birds that are currently used as companion animals , but without a doubt, one of the most endearing is the Australian parrot or parrot, since it is a pet with which we can establish a strong bond. Sometimes we decide to welcome in our home to a papillero parakeet, that is, a hand-reared parakeet with papilla , and we must be aware that this act implies a great responsibility, since feeding a parakeet in these circumstances can be complex, but since then it is absolutely necessary. In this Animals and Pets Online article we show you several tips if a papillero parakeet does not want to eat . Image of pets.iorigen.com Papillero parakeet feeding Sometimes we do not have enough information to know clearly how to feed a papillero parakeet and if your pet refuses to eat it is important to make sure that the food you provide and the way in which that you do it is the right one. To feed it, you need to buy a specific porridge for pistachios , it ...

Bach flowers for cats

In the last few years we hear frequent talk of Bach flowers, also applied to our Companion animals.There are more and more numerous cases treated with this therapy, as well as veterinary professionals who are trained in this discipline.In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will focus on cats to discover what Bach flowers are, which These are the benefits and uses they can have for our cats.If you've ever heard of these Bach flowers for cats , you're interested in reading! What are Bach flowers? The 38 extracts of flowers and plants discovered by the English doctor Edward Bach in the early twentieth century are called.This doctor chose plants that acted on different conditions that could experience the human beings, such as fear, sadness, anger or hyperactivity.Prepared these plants in the form of dilutions that conserved with alcohol in a dropper to facilitate their use.Various drops were administered directly several times a day or put in the water or even in t...

How often to cut a cat?

In the wild, the cat is able to maintain on its own the state of its ones, wearing them out and sharpening them on various surfaces, such as the tree trunk.However, when it remains inside the house, keep the ones in good condition It becomes difficult no matter if you have a scraper, so to avoid discomfort to the cat while walking, to avoid being lime in your furniture, cutting the ones becomes a necessity. The scrapers are essential because the act of plowing is instinctive in the cat.Not only arana and scratch to preserve its claws, but also a way to release stress .As if this were not enough, through the scratch the feline communicates with others of the same species, leaving marks that indicate its presence and define its territory. That is why it is best to place several scrapers in different parts of the house, because if you do not have it Your cat will choose to rip everything he finds, and if you reprimand him for this and prevent him from releasing his instinct, i...

Flying mammals - Examples, characteristics and images

Usually, when we think of flying animals the first thing that comes to us head are images of birds.But in the animal kingdom there are many other flying animals, from insects to mammals.It is true that some of these animals do not fly, only plan or have body structures that allow them to jump from great heights without damaging when they arrive to the ground. Even so, there are flying mammals that really have the ability to fly, not just plan, like bats.In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will show you the curious characteristics of flying mammals.list with photos of the most representative species. Characteristics of flying mammals At a glance, the wings of a bird and a bat can look very different.The birds have wings covered with feathers and bats with hair but, nevertheless, observing their structure we will see that they have the same bones : humero, radio, cubito, carpales, metacarpal and phalanges. In birds, some of the bones corresponding to the wrist and hand...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog