Marine Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals

1. Marine Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals Chapter 9

2. Marine Reptiles

3. Skin covered with scales-prevents water loss • Eggs have leather shell to prevent water loss as well • Ectotherm-body temperature fluctuates with environment

4. Sea Turtles • Only 8 species of sea turtles • Armor-like shell called a carapace • Carapace fused to backbone • Cannot retract head into shell • Legs are modified flippers

5. Leave water only to lay eggs-return to same location every 2-4 years • 100-160 eggs laid at a time • Eggs hatch after about 60 days incubation • Eggs/young are easy prey

7. Sea Snakes • Approximately 55 species of sea snakes • Ovoviviparous • Carnivorous- fish/fish eggs • Closely related to cobras • Venomous bite

8. Rarely aggressive • Small mouth • Hunted for skin

9. Other Marine Reptiles • Marine Iguana-basks on rocks to warm up after a cold swim. Eats seaweed and can dive up to 33 ft.

11. Saltwater crocodile-lives along the coast or in mangrove swamps in the Indian Ocean, Australia, and some Pacific Islands. Among the most aggressive of marine animals- more feared than sharks.

15. Seabirds

16. Endotherms- constant body temperature • Waterproof feathers (oil glands) to conserve body heat • Nest on land but feed mostly at sea • Webbed feet • Some can fly

17. Penguins • Flightless-wings are modified flippers • Spectacular swimmers • Clumsy on land • Adapted to cold temperatures- layer of fat under skin; waterproof feathers • All but one of 18 species live in Antarctica

18. Galapagos penguin- equator • Larger penguins feed on fish/squid • Smaller feed mostly on krill • Male protects the egg for 64 days • Female feeds chick by regurgitating her food until about 5 1/2 months

20. Tubenoses • Tube-like nostrils • Beak curved at tip • Skillful fliers • Catch fish at surface or scavenge on dead birds/whales

21. Male/female faithful to each other • Incubation of young- 8 months

22. Pelicans • Catch fish in pouch below beak • Cormorants- black, long necks, dive to pursue prey • Frigate birds- narrow wings, forked tails, catch prey from surface or force other birds to regurgitate fish in mid-air

24. Gulls • Predators/scavengers • Eat fish, eggs, young, from garbage dumps, anything leftover from humans • Tern is a type of gull that hovers over prey before swallowing it whole.

26. Marine Mammals

27. Endotherms • Hair retains body heat • Viviparous • Has a placenta and mammary glands

28. Seals, Sea Lion, & Walruses • Pinnipeds • Have paddle shaped flippers for swimming • Rest/Breed on land • Predators (fish/squid) • Layer of blubber under skin acts as insulation, provides buoyancy, and is a food reserve

29. Males called bulls; females called cows • Main difference between a seal and sea lion- seal cannot move rear flippers forward • Walrus has large tusks and feeds on invertebrates, mainly clams

33. Sea Otters • Smallest marine mammal • Lack a layer of blubber • Dark brown fur attracts hunters • Became almost extinct until protected in 1911 • Playful and intelligent

34. Spend most of time in water other than breeding and giving birth • Live around kelp • Eat clams, mussels, crabs, sea urchins, and fish

37. Manatees (Sea Cows) • Front flippers only • Gentle, peaceful • Live in groups • Strict vegetarians • Hunted for skin, meat, and oil • Reproduce slowly- 1 calf every 3 years • All 4 species in danger of extinction

39. Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises are in a group called the Cetaceans • Spend entire life in water • Breathe air- can drown • “warm blooded” • Produce milk for young

40. Front flippers only • Have a dorsal fin • Blubber provides insulation • Nostrils form a blowhole • About 90 species, other than 5 species of freshwater species

41. Two categories of cetaceans: • toothless, filter-feeding whales • toothed, carnivorous whales

42. Toothless, filter-feeding • better known as baleen whales • baleen is a flexible, fibrous plate that hangs from upper jaw

43. made of same material as hair and nails • feed by taking a mouthful of water and squeezing it through bristles- filter feed • largest animals on earth • two blowhole’s

44. blue whale is the largest whale of all- males average 80 ft and females 110 ft • other types of baleen whales- fin, humpback, right, bowhead, gray

45. Toothed, carnivorous • teeth adapted for fish, squid, and other prey • teeth only used to catch prey- food is swallowed whole • one blowhole • largest of this group is the sperm whale

46. material from squid beaks found in stomach called ambergris- used in perfume • killer whale is black/white and has a taste for seals, penguins, sea otters, and even other whales

47. no confirmed cases of attacks on humans • Although small- dolphins and porpoises are whales

50. Dolphins/Porpoises: • Playful • Social • Easily trained • Travel in “pods”