Marine mammals
Marine mammals are an informal grouping of mammals that spend a significant part of their lives in the oceans. Three different orders have species that are considered marine mammals: Cetacea, Sirenia and Carnivora.
All Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are considered marine mammals and spend their entire lives in the water. With the exception of four species all cetaceans live in the oceans. There are four species of river dolphins that have adapted to freshwater habitats. The four species of extant Sirenia are completely aquatic. Three of the species live in marine and/or brackish water while the fourth lives in freshwater exclusively. The final order that contains marine mammals Carnivora has species from five different families with marine mammals. Three families were previously considered to be in a separate order Pinnipedia. The Otaridae ( earless seals), Odobenidae (walrus) and Phocidae (eared seals) spend the majority of live in the ocean but return to land to breed and give birth. The final three species of marine mammals are the Sea Otter, Marine Otter and Polar Bear. The otters belong to the mustelid family and the polar bear the ursid. All three of these species spend significant time on land but depend on the sea for the majority of their food.
All marine mammals are protected under the Marine MammalProtection Act. This law not only regulates the killing and capture of marine mammal but also sets the standards for the husbandry and exhibition of these species.
All Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are considered marine mammals and spend their entire lives in the water. With the exception of four species all cetaceans live in the oceans. There are four species of river dolphins that have adapted to freshwater habitats. The four species of extant Sirenia are completely aquatic. Three of the species live in marine and/or brackish water while the fourth lives in freshwater exclusively. The final order that contains marine mammals Carnivora has species from five different families with marine mammals. Three families were previously considered to be in a separate order Pinnipedia. The Otaridae ( earless seals), Odobenidae (walrus) and Phocidae (eared seals) spend the majority of live in the ocean but return to land to breed and give birth. The final three species of marine mammals are the Sea Otter, Marine Otter and Polar Bear. The otters belong to the mustelid family and the polar bear the ursid. All three of these species spend significant time on land but depend on the sea for the majority of their food.
All marine mammals are protected under the Marine MammalProtection Act. This law not only regulates the killing and capture of marine mammal but also sets the standards for the husbandry and exhibition of these species.
Sirenia- manatees and dugongs
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RCP
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