Order Cetacea Dolphins, Porpoises and Whales
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Transcript of Order Cetacea Dolphins, Porpoises and Whales
Order CetaceaDolphins, Porpoises and Whales
Amanda Rosenberger
Order Cetacea
• Cetus – Latin – Meaning ‘whale’ (modern use)– Meaning ‘large sea animal’ (original usage)
• Ocean dwelling mammals– Lungs to breath– Warm-blooded– Hair, may be abundant to scarce, some
microscopic– Live young
Characteristics
• Fusiform – spindled-shaped• Front forearms are flippers• Hind legs are tiny or non-existent (vestigial)• Horizontal tail – flukes• Swim by moving body up and down vs. fish
which swim side to side
Classification
• Kingdom - Animalia• Phylum - Chordata• Class - Mammalia• Order - Cetacea• Suborder (s)
– Mysticeti– Odontoceti
Evolution• Modern whales and their first cousin, the
hippopotamus• New research suggests that Cetaceans belong
to the even-toed ungulates, Order - Artiodactyla
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050205103109.htm
Suborder - Mysticeti
• Baleen whales – Filter feeders– Baleen plates
• 15 species– Largest is the Blue Whale
• V-shaped blowhole• Slower swimmers• Hunted for oil and baleen
Suborder - Odontoceti• Toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises• 73 species• Use echolocation, fast swimmers• Have no vocal cords• Blowhole is used for vocalizations• Human impact on species is greatest.
– Zoos – Bottlenosed Dolphins, Orcas and Belugas
– Military use, fisheries competition, tourism, ship strikes, movies