Skip to main content

Aquatic mammals - Characteristics and examples

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.

Aquatic mammals - Characteristics and examples

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.

Aquatic mammals - Characteristics and examples

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

Popular posts from this blog

How to prevent my dog ​​from scratching a wound?

Do you share your home with a dog? Then surely you will have already realized how complex your pet's health can be, since our furry friends are susceptible to numerous conditions, just as it happens to us. It is important that the owner has some basic knowledge about first aid in dogs, however, we must know that these are intended to perform a rapid and urgent intervention, but not to replace veterinary care.However, so important is that the dog goes to the veterinarian whenever I need it as we do a proper follow-up at home. If your dog has ever suffered a topical injury you have probably asked yourself "How to prevent my dog ​​from scratching a dog? wound ? " In this article of Animals and Pets Online we explain it to you. Scratching and licking the wound When you suffer an annoying mosquito bite you have probably scratched yourself tirelessly, in some cases, we can even cause a slight wound with the scratch, and it is that scratching a wound or injury that caus...

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...

10 games to entertain my cat

The importance of play in cats Cats are curious animals by nature and, therefore, offering them elements that keep their mind stimulated is practically obligatory for us if we want to enjoy healthy and happy animals.A good way to get it is through play, since through it we will be able to cover his need for fun and his hunter's instinct. The lack of game generates boredom in the cat , which in turn can develop stress and related problems such as the destruction of furniture. As you may have noticed if you live with a cat, chasing possible prey to hunt them down is one of their favorite activities.If this instinct covers it with objects , nothing happens as long as it does not involve the destruction of things relevant to us, such as underwear, shoes, etc., and does not involve any damage to the animal, such as cables.The problem lies when we stop the prey.animals, intent I'm attacking our hands and feet or bringing dead animals home.As we say, it is part of their insti...

How to massage a cat?

Although cats have the undeserved reputation of being little affectionate animals, the truth is that the vast majority of our feline companions will enjoy, enormously, the massages that we can dedicate to them.Especially if we want to improve our bond with him, the practice of massages is especially recommended. In this article from ExpertAnimal, to get the best results, we will explain how to give a cat a massage so that it relaxes in a complete step by step.We will see the benefits that this practice can bring us, as well as the precautions we have to take and some additional information about cat massage. Do cats like caresses? Before explaining how to give a cat a relaxing massage correctly, we must be clear that the vast majority of cats like and enjoy the caresses that we provide humans.Cats are animals that we have tamed and this has allowed them, even as adults, to maintain childish characteristics.For them their human caretakers are like their mothers and that is why...

EVERYTHING about PETERBALD CAT

Peterbald cats are part of the so-called hairless cats , because they do not have fur, unlike most feline breeds.Specifically it is an "oriental version" of the famous sphynx cats, obtained from crossing with other feline breeds.In addition to their appearance, these cats stand out for their affectionate and affectionate character, so if you are a person with enough time, peterbald can be your best companion. Do you want to know everything about peterbald cats and their recent origin? From ExpertAnimal we will tell you all about these curious felines without hair, we will talk about the characteristics of peterbal, care and much more. Origin of the peterbald cat Peterbald cats are originating in Russia , where in the 90s eastern shorthair cats with Siamese cats and a certain variety of sphynx cats were crossed, as the intentions of the breeder who made these crosses was to obtain a cat like the sphynx but in an oriental style. It was not long until in 1994 the cr...

Tips for the hygienic education of the puppy

For canine cage training, you have to limit the use of the cage to travel to the minimum possible.Remember that the travel cage should not be used to lock your dog for a long time.When you have to leave your dog alone for extended periods, use a puppy-proof room. Although the puppy-proof room is useful for long confinements, you just have to do use it when you can't supervise your dog.Try to spend as much time as possible with your dog so he doesn't feel abandoned.And he also spends some time with him in his room.Keep in mind that your dog is not going to get dirty near his dog.A bed, a plate of food or a bowl of water.So don't expect the place where you need to be close to those items. Your dog is more likely to need to go to the bathroom.When you wake up, after eating, after playing and after drinking water, make sure you take it to one of the s "permitted areas" (the puppy room, the garden, the park, etc.) after he performs any of these activities. ...

How to make my dog ​​pay attention to me?

Unlike the other basic canine obedience exercises, by teaching your dog to pay attention you will not train in a place free from distractions, but you will take advantage of everyday distractions from the first day of training Although the training of this exercise is done in formal sessions, you can do it taking advantage of your dog's walks and other situations of daily life. In this case we will use the clicker to work with the dog, for that reason, if you want to use it too, we advise you to spend a few days before loading the dog clicker for training. Follow this step by step to Teach your dog to pay attention : Go with your dog to a place where there are some not very intense distractions.Your dog should be distracted, but not so much that he never looks at you.place is closed and safe for your dog, you can release it.If the l ugar is open (streets, parks, etc.) your dog must be attached to the leash.Stay still and wait.Your dog will sniff the ground, look at every...

The 10 most popular cat breeds in the world

1.Persian cat: a conqueror par excellence It is very likely that you have or know someone who owns or simply loves these beautiful and furry cats.It is that Persian cats seem to have been born for success.Not only for their sweet appearance and somewhat good-natured, but also for its noble character and, at the same time, kind and caring.In fact, the Persians are so dear to everyone that, since they began to be registered by the CFA ( Cat Fanciers Association ), in 1871, occupies the first position among the most popular cat breeds in the world.An undeniable conqueror! Although his mantle is really precious, we must be clear that the care of a Persian cat as a pet must necessarily include daily brushing to preserve its good health and avoid the formation of knots in its beautiful fur. 2.Siames: the most affectionate of all Impossible to talk about Siamese cats without remembering those eyes in beautiful shades of green and blue, which combine perfectly with their elegant fe...

Mandarin duck reproduction

The mandarin duck ( Aix galericulata ) is a native bird of the Asian continent , extended especially in China and Japan, which can currently be found in certain regions of England and the United States, either at liberty or as wildlife in ornamental gardens.It is estimated that there are about 66,000 copies. This stationary species weighs almost half a kilo and is recognized for its beautiful colors, although very few people know that only males hold them.Would you like to know why? Then read this article on the reproduction of the mandarin duck . How to distinguish between male and female? Most of the year the female and the mandarin duck machol share a similar coloration , between ocher brown and brownish quite uniform, with some white areas, however, during the mating season the plumage of the male is dressed in bright colors, with the intention of attracting the female. Thus, the colors of the male become bright dark green and red in the area of ​​the head, and in the...

My dog ​​drags the anus on the floor

​​ Sure, more than once, you've seen your dog on the street ua other pets crawl, with their backs, across the floor in a somewhat strange position.You should know that your dog is not dragging the anus on the ground, your dog is dragging its anal glands or try get rid of some discomfort, and for him, it is a rather uncomfortable and unpleasant exercise that is given for a very particular reason: it itches. The real question is why do they itch? Dogs may have itching in the anus for several reasons, and having no hands to quench the sensation, the best solution they have found is to drag it on the ground.Dogs' anal sacs can sometimes be blocked, abscessed or inflamed, which will cause itching. If your dog drags the anus on the ground, it is important to know which is the true root of the problem and how to solve it.Continue reading this new article of Animal Expert where we will address the causes and give you some solutions to prevent your dog from continuing to pose ...