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

The pig as a pet

Currently having a pig as a pet is no longer as peculiar as it could be a few years ago years Among the most sought after options we find Vietnamese, dwarf or minipigs pigs and pygmies, all of them beautiful and friendly pigs. We must know that not all people can have a pig as a pet and that is a decision that we must meditate very well before carrying it out, then we explain why. Continue reading this article of Animals and Pets Online on the pig as a pet and find out if indeed the Pork is the ideal pet for you or rather you should think about other options. Is it possible to have a pig as a pet? There are many famous people who have decided to have a pig as a pet and among them we find George Clooney or Paris Hilton, but is it really possible that the pig behaves like a pet? The answer is yes, the pig can be a wonderful domestic pet . Like another animal, the pig needs specific care, education and love from his family.If all this is done properly we can enjoy a wonderfu...

How long does a dog with cancer last?

Listening to the word cancer is synonymous with bad news.Just hear it, images that come to mind are a long process of medications and intensive care, radiotherapy, chemotherapy.Not only humans suffer from this disease, but also animals, as is the case with dogs. When a Pet is diagnosed with this disease, many questions arise.Among them, how long does a dog with cancer last, how it affects it, what care it needs, among others.If you are interested in all this, do not stop reading the next article. How does cancer affect dogs? Canine cancer attacks the body's cells, causing them to multiply in an uncontrolled way.After this, they divide and form more cells successively, affecting the inner organs and damaging the tissue.All this, gradually , it becomes a tumor. There are several types of cancer that are common in all dog breeds, such as: Lymphoma: attacks the lymphatic system.It is characterized by an increase in the size of the nodes found in the jaw.It is one of the...

What animal are you according to your zodiac sign?

Many people trust the zodiac cult when making decisions or finding a compatible partner in love.It is a devotion that has lasted since the time of ancient Greece , so it is not surprising that many people continue to consult the virtues and defects of each particular sign. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we wanted to pay a small tribute to all the signs of the zodiac and the animals that are more related to them. What animal are you according to your zodiac sign? Find out below! Aquarius-20/01 to 02/18 Aquarius is a kindly and humanitarian sign, but in turn independent and unpredictable .Describes progressive and creative people who make their own decisions at Whatever this may cause, this air sign fits perfectly with owls , shy and outgoing at the same time. Pisces-19/02-20/03 Pisces stands out for its compassionate, humble and sentimental behavior .These are reserved and somewhat indecisive people, who get carried away by influences, such as seawater...

What is a stereotypy in animals?

Especially in the zoo, in animal shelters or in small enclosures and not We can see that these are the stereotypes in animals: These are repetitive actions that the animal carries out without a specific purpose , very clear examples they are the dogs that spin on themselves without stopping, rocking or barking.Sometimes it can be related to a mental problem although we usually talk about serious situations of stress that lead to stereotypy. Do you want to know more things about it? Discover what a stereotypy is in animals and how or why it happens in this complete Animals and Pets Online article. Why it happens? As we have mentioned, stereotypes are repetitive movements that are consequences of stress and usually occur in animals that live in captivity such as shelter dogs, zoo animals etc. The main reason for that happening is the inability to satisfy their natural behavior either due to lack of space, food, a drastic change in their life or poor physical activity.Stere...

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 ...

Why does my dog want to ride me?

Dogs have their own way of expressing themselves, using body language in the time to communicate your mood or perceptions about the environment.As tutors, it is also our responsibility to know and respect the canine nature, as well as learn to communicate more effectively with our furry. However, some dog behaviors can be especially curious and even uncomfortable .One of them is, without a doubt, the habit of riding the leg of your guardian or other people, either in the home itself and even on the street. In this Animals and Pets Online article we will answer your question about why my dog wants to ride me , showing you the main reasons that explain why my dog rides my leg .Keep reading! Why does my dog ride my leg? Before proceeding, we need to clarify that there is no single reason that explains why a dog rides a person, another dog or an object.Body language and behavior the dogs are complex and diverse, so that the same behavior or action can have different m...

Milbemax in dogs - USES and DOSE

Milbemax in dogs is a antiparasitic widely used by its wide spectrum of action and its effectiveness, in addition to its ease of use when sold as a chewable tablet with chicken flavor, which facilitates the dog to ingest it voluntarily.In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about the action of milbemax in all types of dogs , its dosage, its possible side effects and, also, the precautions that we must take into account.Of course, we must always administer it according to veterinary prescription . What is milbemax for dogs? As we have said, milbemax is a active antiparasitic product against intestinal parasites such as cestodes, also known as flat worms, or nematodes or roundworms.against other non-intestinal nematodes, such as the Angiostrongylus vasorum , whose adult forms are located in the pulmonary arteries and the heart, or the Thelazia callipaeda , which parasites the eyes.be used in the prevention of another nematode, the Dirofilaria immitis or he...

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 ...

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...

Types of canaries and their names

How many races of canaries are there? At present, more than 30 types of canaries are known , this being the most abundant species of domestic bird in the world with parakeets, although there are many classifications possible, the canary breeds are usually divided into three large groups: Singing canaries : here, we find the most coveted breeds in canariculture, thanks to their incredible ability to learn and play melodies complex and a great variety of sounds.In the next sections we will see the main races of singing canaries. Canaries by color : this, perhaps, is the most basic classification of canaries, based on the color of their feathers.It is divided into subgroups according to the predominant pigments in its plumage, the lipochromic canaries (shades of dominant and recessive white, yellow and red) and the melancholic canaries (colors black, agate, green, bromine, isabela, brown and tona corrugated qualities). The position or position canaries : also called a design or...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog