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

Can you eat shellfish during pregnancy?

Seafood is one of the most exquisite foods out there, but also one of the worst known in the diet of a pregnant woman.Can you eat shellfish and fish during pregnancy? The truth is that it has many benefits for the future breast and the fetus, but as long as the appropriate varieties are chosen, they are cooked well and in a healthy way and not excessive consumption is made.Especially, during this stage, it is essential to avoid consumption of raw fish or shellfish and opt for those varieties with a lower amount of mercury so as not to endanger the health of the baby or the pregnant woman.Read this ONsalus article to know all the details about the issue: Can seafood be eaten during pregnancy? Can I eat shellfish in pregnancy? The fats that seafood has are mostly healthy, in addition to also having omega-3, an element that lowers cholesterol, especially if taken on a regular basis, which also helps decrease the risk of heart disease.Therefore, seafood has very significant benefits ...

Poodle dog or medium poodle: features

The poodle or poodle is one of the best known dogs in worldwide, due to their elegance, intelligence and balanced character .According to the International Cinological Federation (FCI), poodle dogs are classified into four varieties according to their size: toy, dwarf, medium ( or standard) and giant.However, other cynological associations may have different criteria.For example, the American Kennel Club (AKC) only recognizes three varieties of poodle dogs according to their size: miniature standard and toy. If you are thinking of adopting a poodle or poodle dog, it is very important that you properly inform yourself about the character, temperament with other dogs, the characteristics and the care that this breed requires.In addition, we will also talk about training and education , very important details to have e No matter if we want a sociable and happy adult dog. Keep reading this breed form and find out all about the medium poodle or poodle : Poodle History This is one...

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...

10 reasons to walk your dog

The dog is an animal that needs to walk 2 to 3 times a day, But do you know why that is so? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain why it is so important to walk with your dog, why the garden does not replace the walk and many other things that, perhaps you do not know. Do not forget This is a very important habit that you must carry out on a daily basis.Not doing so can be very harmful for your pet, do not forget it.Keep reading and discover 10 reasons to walk with your dog . 1.They must make their needs The first reason, and the most important , to take a dog for a walk, is to allow him to do his needs until he is satisfied. Apart from puppies that are not yet able to go outside or who are learning to urinate, it is very negative to allow our dog to urinate and defecate at home.In addition to causing a bad smell, we will be creating an unhealthy environment important that can lead to serious health problems in dogs and humans. 2.It allows them to ...

10 curiosities about dolphins

The dolphins are mammals belonging to the family Delphinidae and it is probably the most popular, charismatic and intelligent animal kingdom marine creatures.These characteristics and many other peculiarities make us humans become very interested in these cetaceans and their intelligence.Maybe you are looking for some dolphin curiosities for children or you may want to know more about the species.In any case, you have arrived at the right place! In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will show you 10 curiosities of dolphins based on scientific studies that ensure its truthfulness, surely you discover many things you did not know about dolphins! If you want to know curious facts about dolphins, don't think about it, read on... 1.How many types of dolphins are there in the world? As we have advanced in the introduction, oceanic dolphins or dolphins are mammals that belong to the family Delphinidae , which includes more than 30 different species. more than 2,000 dolph...

Natural remedies for gastroenteritis in dogs

As we have already mentioned on other occasions, dogs are susceptible to multiple diseases that we can also observe in us.On some occasions, these are not serious and are only a response of the organism that seeks to deal with a certain situation through its own healing resources. For an owner to notice these reactions in your pet's organism is essential to spend time with her, to observe and know her well in order to determine those signs that show that something is wrong. If in these cases you like to treat to your dog naturally, in this article of Animals and Pets Online, we talk about the natural remedies for gastroenteritis in dogs . What is gastroenteritis? Gastroenteritis in dogs is a mild disease unless it is complicated.It is characterized by an inflammatory state that affects both the stomach and intestines. In most Sometimes, gastroenteritis is due to a reaction of the organism that tries to clean the digestive system , whether it is from a spoiled food or...

Colicos in horses - Symptoms and treatment

The equine colic is the first cause of mortality in horses and many horse owners have to face it once since it is the most frequent disease of the adult horse.Colic syndrome is defined as a abdominal pain of varied origins . The horse is a hypersensitive animal and the external manifestations of the colic can be impressive.Some specificities of the horse can complicate the situation: a horse cannot vomit, so that the food that has reached the stomach is forced to follow its path in the digestive tract.In addition, certain parasites such as strongils cause a narrowing of the arteries of the digestive system, which can make the condition worse. Fortunately less than 10% of horses with colic require surgery.case colic syndrome is a of the most important equine pathologies for their severity and frequency, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will tell you everything you need to know about the colic in horses . Symptoms of colic on the horse Colic or colic syndrome is...

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...

Why does my dog lick her vulva a lot?

Does your dog lick her parts a lot? If so and you want to know if it is a normal behavior or not, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we answer all your questions and tell you what to do in each case. There are several causes that they can lead a dog to lick the vulva, some of them typical of its nature and others indicate the presence of a more or less serious disease.For these latter cases, the dog usually shows other signals that we must warn in order to confirm the diagnose and go to the specialist as soon as possible.Continue reading and discover why your dog licks her vulva a lot , as well as what to do in each situation. The bitch licks the vulva a lot to masturbate The dog usually reaches sexual maturity between six months and one year of age if she is a small or medium breed, and the anus or a year and a half if it is large or giant, with the arrival of the first zeal.From this moment we can begin to see in her behaviors that until then she had not had, such a...

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, suc...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog