What are some adaptations of marine mammals?

One of the major behavioral adaptations of marine mammals is their ability to swim and dive. Pinnipeds swim by paddling their flippers while sirenians and cetaceans move their tails or flukes up and down. Some marine mammals can swim at relatively high speeds.

What are the characteristics of marine mammals?

What makes a marine mammal a marine mammal? They must meet the characteristics of all mammals — they breathe air through lungs, are warm-blooded, have hair (at some point during life), and produce milk to nurse their young — while also living most or all of their lives in or very near the ocean.

Why marine mammals become stranded?

Marine animals strand for numerous reasons, and the predominant known causes vary by species. Some of the common general causes include: Injuries caused by ship/vessel collisions. Entrapment or entanglement in fishing gear.

What order of marine mammals includes dolphins and whales?

Order CETACEA
This group, which includes all the animals commonly known as whales, dolphins and porpoises, has two main branches, the suborder Mysticeti of baleen whales, and the suborder Odontoceti of toothed whales.

What is the fastest marine mammal?

common dolphin
The common dolphin (delphinus delphis) holds the title for fastest marine mammal, reaching speeds of 60 km/h (37 mph). Playful swimmers, dolphins can often be seen riding swells and ship’s wakes.

What is the smallest marine mammal?

the sea otter
Diving and foraging energetics of the smallest marine mammal, the sea otter (Enhydra lutris)

Which marine mammal has the longest lifespan?

the bowhead whale
Scientists agree that the bowhead whale has the longest lifespan of all marine mammals. Bowhead whale and calf in the Arctic (Marine Mammal Permit 782-1719).

Why can’t whales live on land?

Whales cannot survive on land — their bodies did not evolve to. Furthermore, whales carry around a lot of blubber. This helps them keep warm in the water, where temperatures get a lot colder, but if they end up on land, they overheat and dry up very quickly because of their blubber.

What are 2 of the 5 marine mammal families in the order Carnivora?

Families of marine mammals of the order Carnivora are these: Otariidae, or eared seals (fur seals and sea lions); Odobenidae (walrus); Phocidae (true seals); Mustelidae (chungungo and sea otter); and Ursidae (polar bear).

What happens if you Strand a dolphin in the wild?

Stranded animals may thrash their tails around, and a person in the way can be seriously injured. Due to the threat of morbillivirus, Dolphin Research Center is no longer involved in cetacean strandings, however the following protocol is standard for all cetacean strandings.

Where do most marine mammal strandings take place?

New Zealand is a hotspot for marine mammal strandings. Since 1840, more than 5,000 strandings of whales and dolphins have been recorded around the New Zealand coast. Strandings occur all year round and usually involve just one or two animals. Mass strandings on the other hand, involve more than two animals, but may involve hundreds of animals.

How can I help at a marine mammal stranding?

To be more prepared to help at a stranding you can attend a Marine Mammal Medic Course (external site) run by Project Jonah. Medics who have completed the course will be well equipped to help rescue stranded whales and dolphins and can act as a role model to untrained rescuers.

Where are the Dolphin strandings in North Carolina?

This network covers all coastlines of North Carolina, running south to Florida, and then proceeding around the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas and New Mexico. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are also members of SEUS.