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Marine Mammal Skeletons: Anatomy and Adaptations

Marine Mammal Skeletons: Anatomy And Adaptations

Explore the intriguing world of marine mammals through this focused study on their physiology. Designed for students at the University of Toronto, this material delves into the adaptive mechanisms that support life in aquatic...

Questions: 29 | Attempts: 12 | Last updated: Aug 4, 2025

Sample Question 1
What are the functions of the skeleton?

Control voluntary movements

Regulate body temperature

Digest food and absorb nutrients

Protect and supportlocomotiondetermine sizecreate precursors for RBCstore lipidstimeline of biochemical events after death

Sample Question 2
Describe the pinniped skeleton.

Aquatic animals with no bones

Small cervical and lumbar vertebrae, 2 true ribs, 6 false ribs, 5 floating ribs

Large cervical and lumbar vertebrae8 true ribs, 4 false ribs, 3 floating ribsphocids: cannot rotate pelvis-flop on landotariids: can rotate pelvis-walks on landacromion attached to scapula for strong muscle attachments

Phocids can rotate their pelvis and walk on land

Sample Question 3
Describe the cetacean skeleton.

Cetaceans do not have vestigial pelvic bones.

7 cervical vertebrae-2 or more may be fused-fusing causes stability (sperm whale)-unfused causes flexibility (beluga)ribs are poorly articulated with thoracic regionodontocetes have well defined sternal ribsmysticetes have poorly defined sternal ribsvestigial pelvis with no hind limbstail divided into 2 flukes-very compresses vertebrae with cheveron extending to notch of fluke-counter current system for thermoregulation-no blubber in flukeflatter bones compared to humans

The tail of cetaceans is not divided into flukes.

Cetaceans have a rigid and inflexible skeleton compared to other mammals.