Class Mammalia order Pinnipedia (Seals, Sea Lions & Walruses) order Carnivora (Sea Otters) order...

Class Mammalia

order Pinnipedia(Seals, Sea Lions& Walruses)

order Carnivora(Sea Otters)

order Sirenia(Manatees &Dugongs)

order Cetacea(Whales, Dolphins& Porpoises)

Pinnipeds

Sea Lions

Seals

Major differences:Major differences:•Sea Lions can move back flipper Sea Lions can move back flipper forward forward •Sea Lions have external earsSea Lions have external ears•Sea Lions males have external Sea Lions males have external testiclestesticles•Sea Lions lack toes w/ clawsSea Lions lack toes w/ claws

Walruses

• Pinnipeds usually live in cold water • Have a thick layer of blubber for insulation,

food reserve & buoyancy• Bristly hair & large size conserve body heat

(less surface area)

• Exception: Monk Seals• These seals live in warm climates• Two species are rare: Mediterranean &

Hawaiian• One species is extinct, last seen in 1952:

Caribbean• Seals hunted for skin, meat & oil

c. 1910

CaribbeanMonk SealLast seenIn 1952

Steller’sSea Cow

•Closest relatives to Closest relatives to manatees & dugongs are manatees & dugongs are elephantselephants•The only true vegetarians The only true vegetarians among marine mammalsamong marine mammals•The extinct Steller’s sea cow The extinct Steller’s sea cow was the largest was the largest @ 25-30 feet@ 25-30 feet

SireniansSirenians

Dugong