I Marine Mammals B Pinnipedia suborder Many nest
I. Marine Mammals B. Pinnipedia (suborder) • Many nest in rookeries • • Females may have seasonal delayed implantation • • Males establish territories and harems (polygynous ) ( Fertilization and early development to blastocyst followed by delayed implantation Lactation period varies from days to months
Northern Fur Seals video
I. Marine Mammals B. Pinnipedia 1. Sea Lions (6 species) • • Antarctic Fur Seal 2. Extremely common in E Pacific Highly social; usually congregate on shore Males can be large (up to 3+ m, 1100+ kg) Harems of up to 12 females Fur Seals (10 species) • • California Sea Lion Related to sea lions Thick, dense fur Steller’s Sea Lion
Weddell I. video Marine Mammals B. S. Elephant Pinnipedia 3. True Seals (19 species) • • Highest diversity in polar regions (esp. Antarctic) Better adapted for aquatic existence vs. eared seals Include largest pinniped • Southern elephant seals (males) can reach 6. 5+ m (22 feet) long and 4000+ kg Tend not to have harems (pair for breeding season) Harbor video Leopard Crabeater
I. Marine Mammals B. Pinnipedia 4. Walrus (1 species) • • video No external ears; distinct neck; hind limbs for walking Feed on fishes and benthic invertebrates, esp. clams Tusks used for defense or as anchors in ice Males can reach 5+ m, 1500+ kg • Males defend harems (up to three females + calves)
I. Marine Mammals C. Sirenia (4 species) • Manatees (marine and freshwater), dugongs (exclusively marine), sea cows (extinct) Restricted to tropics (modern) Manatees reach 3. 5 m, 550 kg Dugongs reach 4 m, 1000 kg Front flippers, vestigial pelvis, no hind limbs (similar to cetaceans), tail flukes • • Swim mainly with tail video Thick blubber layer Strictly vegetarian video • Eat seagrasses and other vegetation
West African Manatee West Indian Manatee Amazonian Manatee Dugong
I. Marine Mammals D. Cetacea • Whales, dolphins, porpoises • • Front flippers, tail, no rear limbs • • • Many have dorsal fin (stability, along with flippers) Muscular tail ends in horizontal flukes Streamlined for efficient swimming • • Reduced/fused cervical vertebrae, no external ears/nostrils Limited hair Example of convergent evolution Blubber layer – Varies by species and season • • Insulation, energy, buoyancy Breathe through blowhole on dorsal surface • • • ~90 species: ~85 marine Single – toothed whales Double – baleen whales Evolved from terrestrial ancestors
Fig. 12 -10
I. Marine Mammals D. Cetacea • Thermoregulation • • Eliminate heat: Shunt blood into blubber layer Retain heat: Countercurrent exchangers
Fig. 12 -11
I. Marine Mammals D. Cetacea • Diving adaptations • • Mammalian diving reflex • Bradycardia (as low as 10 beats per minute) • Peripheral vasoconstriction Most oxygen in tissues • Nitrogen forced out of alveoli: prevents bends Collapsible ribcage Up to 2 x more blood per unit body weight vs. humans 10 -30 x more myoglobin in muscles vs. land mammals Muscles less sensitive to lactic acid Medulla oblongata (controls breathing) less sensitive to CO 2
Fig. 12 -12
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