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Cetaceans

Cetaceans. 2 Families. Odontoceti (toothed whales) 67 species One opening for blowhole Mysticeti (baleen whales) 11 species Two openings for blowhole. Teeth.

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Cetaceans

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  1. Cetaceans

  2. 2 Families • Odontoceti (toothed whales) • 67 species • One opening for blowhole • Mysticeti (baleen whales) • 11 species • Two openings for blowhole

  3. Teeth • Toothed whales have teeth which are numerous and peg-like, although sometimes modified, as in the single tusk of the narwhal or the odd, fanglike lower teeth of the beaked whales.

  4. Teeth • Baleen whales lack teeth completely as adults (although teeth are present in fetal baleen whales). They feed by straining small marine organisms out of the water using plates of baleen, a hornlike substance that forms filaments that hang down from the roof of the mouth.

  5. Reproduction • All species produce a single offspring at a time • The female delivers usually a single calf tail-first to minimize the risk of drowning. • Milk is so fatty that it has the consistency of toothpaste

  6. Balaenidae • Bowhead Whales • Right Whales

  7. Rorqual • Humpback whales • Blue whales • Fin Whales • Minkie Whales

  8. Eschrichtiidae • Grey Whales

  9. Neobalaenidae • Pygmy Right Whales

  10. Delphinidae • Dolphins

  11. Monodontidae • Belugas • Narwhals

  12. Phocoenidae • Porpoises

  13. Physeteroidea • Sperm Whales

  14. Platanistoidea • River Dolphins

  15. Sound • Most whales have generally poor vision (exept dolphins which have acute binocular vision). • To make up for it cetaceans have excellent hearing. • Because sounds travel farther and faster in water whales can communicate to each other at far distances.

  16. Baleen whale songs • All the whales in an area sing virtually the same song at any point in time and the song is constantly and slowly evolving over time. • Unsure why they sing but most agree it is used for sexual courtship. • Only males sing • Do not have vocal cords, how they make the sound is unknown.

  17. Toothed whale echolocation • Have a highly adapted echolocation adaptation • Use it to see their surroundings as well as communicating between individuals • Can use the intense sounds to immobilize small prey

  18. Intelligence • Studies into dolphin behavior have highlighted how similar their communications are to those of humans and that they are brighter than chimpanzees.

  19. Intelligence • Baleen whales also exhibit a high level of intelligence. • Have the ability to migrate thousands of miles

  20. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mammal/cetacea/cetacean.html • http://www.wisegeek.com/why-do-whales-sing.htm

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