Apologia Marine Biology Module 7

How is studying the physical features of a bird helpful in determining its feeding habits?

Each bird has a specific species beak design that is helpful for capturing and hunting its prey. All of its features are present for a reason.

A bird has air tubes on the upper edge of its beak.

It is breeding or preparing to.

Name two anatomical differences between turtles that live mostly on land and sea turtles.

Land turtles can pull their head and appendages into their carapace, sea turtles cannot. Land turtles have thick, clawed legs. Sea turtles have flat flippers.

Members of order Cetacea and Sirenia are both large and aquatic. Name at least two differences between the members of these two orders.

Most in order Cetacea are carnivores, have dorsal fins, and flukes on tails. Most in order Sirenia are herbivores, dont have dorsal fins, and have square, paddle shaped tails.

Would a scientist ever find a healthy adult male sea turtle on shore?

No. Females go on land to lay eggs but the only time a male is on shore is during its birth.

In the North, the sparrows are larger than the same sparrows in the South. It is assumed that this is the case because larger birds are more likely to survive the colder temperatures in the north. Did the changes between these species occur because of mutation?

No. Tzwouldhe changes occurred via adaptation because no new genetic information was added, which is what happens in mutation.

Name the three orders from which most mammals come.

Orders Cetacea, Pinnipedia, and Sirenia.

What structure do the sea turtles (and the marine birds) have that helps them to remove excess salts from their bodies?

Salt glands

Unlike marine reptiles, sea birds are more widely distributed throughout the world. Why is this?

Sea birds are more widely distributed because they are endothermic, meaning that they can be in any location or temperature while their body temperature is maintained. They are also very mobile because of their wings.

Name an anatomical difference between land snakes and sea snakes.

Sea snakes have a laterally flattened tail to help with swimming. Land snake's tails are round

Why do sea turtles lay so many eggs?

Sea turtles must lay large quantities of eggs because they are exposed to danger the minute they hatch. Not many will survive.

Explain how baleen works when a whale feeds.

The balleen mechanism works like a sieve to filter out tiny crustaceans. Then the whale pushes its tongue against the baleen to push the water out of its mouth.

What is the largest animal in the world? To what order does it belong?

The blue whale. Order Cetacea.

You are given two bones. One comes from a penguin while the other comes from a gull. If they are the same size, how could you tell which bone came from which bird?

The bone from the gull would be much lighter in weight than the penguin's because the gull's bones are hollow.

What are the two major differences between seals and sea lions?

The main differences of

You are looking at two specimens of bird feet. One comes from an albatross and the other from a pelican. How can you determine which comes from which?

The pelicans feet are webbed between all four toes. Unlike most birds, having none between the third and fourth toes.

What are the two main groups of whales? To which do dolphins belong?

Toothed and baleen. Dolphins are in the toothed group.

If no one ever killed another whale, why would it still take a long time for the whale populations to increase significantly?

Whale populations don't increase because mothers produce very little cows.