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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