Marine Mammals 1

Sea Otters

-smallest marine mammal -found along Pacific coast from California to Siberia

Gray Whale

A baleen whale (filter feeder) that migrates up and down the Pacific coast w/ the seasons. Like the Humpback, it is known to jump out of the water ("breach")

Walruses

Extremely large, reddish pinnipeds with over-developed canines (tusks) in both males and females

Orcas (Killer Whales)

Fairly large, black & white toothed whales that hunt in packs, like wolves.

Beluga Whale

Small, white, toothed whale w/ a bulbous head; lives in Arctic waters

Cetaceans

The Order of whales, including both baleen & toothed whales, dolphins, & porpoises

Porpoises

any of several small gregarious (friendly & social) cetaceans having a blunt snout and many teeth. Generally smaller than dolphins

Pinnipeds

fin-footed carnivorous marine mammal

Humpback Whale

large, migratory baleen whale with long flippers, noted for arching or humping its back as it jumps ("breaches") or dives

Sperm Whale

largest toothed whale. Mysterious deep divers that like to eat giant squid.

Sirenians

order of herbivore that includes dugongs and manatees and are distant relatives of elephants

Sea Lions

pinniped with long forelimbs, no tusks, and that DO HAVE external ear flaps

Seals

pinniped with short forelimbs, no tusks, and that DON'T HAVE ear flaps,

Manatees

sirenians with a rounded instead of triangular tail. They live in the shallow coastal waters of Florida & the Gulf Coast , among other warm-water places

Dugongs

sirenians with a triangular tail. They live in sheltered, shallow waters of East Africa, and in Australia

Narwhal

small Arctic whale; the male has a long spiral ivory tusk

Polar Bears

terrestrial (land-based) marine mammals that prefer seals as their preferred food. They live in Arctic areas

Bottlenose Dolphins

the most common type of dolphin; often used in marine mammal shows at places like Sea World. Highly intelligent & very social; live in "pods" (family groups)

Baleen Whales (mysticeti)

these are a group of cetaceans which includes the Blue Whale, Humpback Whale, and Gray Whale. They use baleen plates in their mouths to filter out food from the water

Toothed Whales (Odontoceti)

these are a group of cetaceans which includes the sperm whale, killer whale, dolphins, and porpoises. They are mostly hunters

Blue Whale

world's largest animal, on land or sea. A baleen whale (filter feeder) that feeds mainly on krill (small, shrimp-like creature)