Notes: Marine Mammals Sea Otters, Polar Bears, Manatees.

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Notes: Marine Mammals Notes: Marine Mammals Sea Otters, Polar Bears, Sea Otters, Polar Bears, Manatees Manatees

Transcript of Notes: Marine Mammals Sea Otters, Polar Bears, Manatees.

Page 1: Notes: Marine Mammals Sea Otters, Polar Bears, Manatees.

Notes: Marine Notes: Marine MammalsMammals

Sea Otters, Polar Bears, Sea Otters, Polar Bears, ManateesManatees

Page 2: Notes: Marine Mammals Sea Otters, Polar Bears, Manatees.

Sea OttersSea Otters • General CharacteristicsGeneral Characteristics• Order: CarnivoraOrder: Carnivora• Smallest marine mammal 60-80 Smallest marine mammal 60-80

lbs.lbs.• Raft – group of ottersRaft – group of otters• Live in and around kelp bedsLive in and around kelp beds• Right or left handed (keep a Right or left handed (keep a

favorite rock under their armpit)favorite rock under their armpit)• Lack a layer of blubberLack a layer of blubber• Fur – densest fur of any marine Fur – densest fur of any marine

mammalmammal•Human 30,000 hairs per Human 30,000 hairs per

square inchsquare inch•German shepherd 40,000 hairs German shepherd 40,000 hairs

per square inchper square inch•Otter – 1,000,000 hairs per Otter – 1,000,000 hairs per

square inchsquare inch

Page 3: Notes: Marine Mammals Sea Otters, Polar Bears, Manatees.

Otter’s cont’dOtter’s cont’d• They blow bubbles into their fur They blow bubbles into their fur

for insulation and to help them float.for insulation and to help them float.

• Food – They eat sea urchins, mussels, crabs and other Food – They eat sea urchins, mussels, crabs and other invertebrates. They must eat 7-9 kg. per day because invertebrates. They must eat 7-9 kg. per day because they have a high metabolism (helps keep them warm).they have a high metabolism (helps keep them warm).

• ReproductionReproduction

•Most breed and give birth in the waterMost breed and give birth in the water

•Pups weigh 4-5 lbs. at birthPups weigh 4-5 lbs. at birth

• Pups cannot dive by themselves until they are 2-3 Pups cannot dive by themselves until they are 2-3 months old. months old.

• When sea otters are alarmed or frightened, they hold up When sea otters are alarmed or frightened, they hold up their paws and hiss!their paws and hiss!

• Almost slaughtered to extinction until protected in 1911.Almost slaughtered to extinction until protected in 1911.

Page 4: Notes: Marine Mammals Sea Otters, Polar Bears, Manatees.

Polar Polar BearsBears

• CharacteristicsCharacteristics• Largest predator in Largest predator in the worldthe world• Live in the ArcticLive in the Arctic• Can swim up to 60 miles without Can swim up to 60 miles without

stopping to rest – this may take 3-4 stopping to rest – this may take 3-4 days.days.

• They can do 50 foot dives.They can do 50 foot dives.• Eat seals which they stalk and capture Eat seals which they stalk and capture

when they surface to breathe.when they surface to breathe.• They spend the winter in dens They spend the winter in dens

Page 5: Notes: Marine Mammals Sea Otters, Polar Bears, Manatees.

Polar Bears, Cont’dPolar Bears, Cont’d• Reproduction/OffspringReproduction/Offspring

•Cubs are born in the winter Cubs are born in the winter in a denin a den•They weigh 1 pound at birthThey weigh 1 pound at birth•Don’t leave the den for 3 monthsDon’t leave the den for 3 months•Stay with mother for 3 yearsStay with mother for 3 years

• AdaptationsAdaptations•white fur – to help camouflagewhite fur – to help camouflage•black skin – to help trap heatblack skin – to help trap heat

• hair is a hollow tube to help funnel hair is a hollow tube to help funnel sunlight to skin. sunlight to skin.

Page 6: Notes: Marine Mammals Sea Otters, Polar Bears, Manatees.

Manatees and DugongsManatees and Dugongs• CharacteristicsCharacteristics• Order Sirenia – means mermaidsOrder Sirenia – means mermaids• Relative of the elephant – called sea cowsRelative of the elephant – called sea cows• Large lips to feed on sea grass - herbivoresLarge lips to feed on sea grass - herbivores• Reproduce slowly – 1 calf every 3 yearsReproduce slowly – 1 calf every 3 years• Many are damaged by speed boats so Many are damaged by speed boats so

speed limit laws have been passed in their speed limit laws have been passed in their habitats. Scars are visible on their backs.habitats. Scars are visible on their backs.

Manatee- can reach Dugong – can reach15 feet/1,320 lbs 10 feet/930 lbs