Cetaceans: What are, characteristics, types and examples

The cetaceans are mammal animalsthat have adapted to the Aquatic life. They evolved from terrestrial mammals, when food on land began to scarce and had to get closer and more to water. Thus, a new group evolved that are cetaceans. To better understand its origin, we present your taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Edge: Chordata
• Subfile: Vertebrate
• Class: Mammalia
• INFRACLASE: Placentalia
• Order: Artiodactyla
• SUBORDEN: Whippomorpha
• Infraorden: Cetacea

Of this, we understand that they are vertebrate animals, mammals and placentaries, related to the ungulates, such as antelopes, and with hippos as closest relative. Among the cetaceans we find whales, dolphins and zifios, among others. In addition, in this other article you can learn about the evolution of whales.

Body shape and fins

The most characteristic of these animals are their main adaptations to live in water: the shape of the body and fins. Their body is similar to that of fish, with fins that help them swim and Hydrodynamic form. These fins were in their origins, previous legs that adapted and modified to serve them in marine life, while the rear disappeared. The evolution of cetaceans He points out that in a time they were mammal animals that lived on earth and occasionally entered the sea, until they stayed there, transforming entirely for the aquatic environment. Its fins are:

• The Flow finthat unlike that of fish, it is horizontal. These are reduced and modified previous limbs.
• Dorsal finon the back
• A pair of pectoral finswhich contains the bones of the phalanges that the limb of a mammal would have, but on the outside the fabric it covers them completely to give the shape of the fin.

Other characteristics of cetaceans

• They lack hair, but they have a thick fatty layer which serves as protection of extreme cold weather.
• They do not have atrial pavilions, but this does not mean that they do not listen. On the contrary, as the bones from the inner ear of the skull being separated, they can perceive better water sounds.
• Their reproductive devices are not seen with the naked eye, but are hidden.
• They have a spiraclewhich is a hole that can open and close air on the surface of the water. Discover more about where and how the whales breathe here.
• They usually sleep near the surface, since they must go out to breathe. Discover more about how dolphins sleep here.

Here you can find more information about the characteristics of the dolphins, one of the best known cetaceans.

In the classification of cetaceans there are two great types that help us to understand what are similar, which different and why. Are the following:

Misticetos

The mytilates are cetaceans that have “Barbas”. These “beards” are a keratin structure located in the upper jaw and that help you filter the plankton with which they feed. These cetaceans are not predators, but filters. Here are the largest cetaceans, Like whales. Here you can know what the plankton is.

Dental

Dentistry cetaceans instead have teeth To chew your food. Its food is mainly composed of squid and fish. In addition, dentalcetes have a developed skill that we call ecolocation, which allows them to understand and interpret exactly the environment around them. Here are some whales and dolphins.

We recommend reading our post about whales have teeth? To learn more about this topic.

Cetaceans can be fed with two types of food according to the mouth type They possess.

• The myticetes eat planktonwhich is a set of tiny animals and plants that float in groups on the surface of the sea. The myticex only have to open their mouths so that between the plankton, and when it passes through their “beards” it is no longer possible to leave, so it ends up being digested.
• The other type of food taken by cetaceans are Fish and calm. These are chewed by Cetaceans dentist And then engulfed. They also eat crustaceans, which are edible animals such as lobster, crabs and perclabes.

In these articles we explain more about where the whales live and what they eat and what do the dolphins eat and where they live.

Cetaceans live in seas and oceansand in less quantity, in fresh water rivers and lakes. Their distribution is given depending on its reproduction, its diet and its migratory needs. For example, dolphins commonly live in coastal waters because there finds abundant food.

• Among the cetaceans of Chile There are the whales, which are south of that country. Also in the Gulf of California, in Canada, Russia, Norway, Greenland or in the Arctic.
• Cetaceans in the Mediterranean They are marsopas, dolphins and whales.
• Cetaceans in the Canary Islands They are dolphins, whales, orcs and sperm whales. One of the most popular places for Cetacean sighting It is Tenerife, where vessels leave that allow the walkers to see the Pacific swim of these, which even sometimes accompany them on the ride. The excursions to see these impressive animals are organized by number of hours and you can choose the one that suits you. The experience of seeing a cetacean closely, swimming in its wild environment and enjoying a natural ecosystem with its native fauna is indescribable. If you think about a walk where there is cetaceans and navigation, Surely the trip will be unforgettable and we must remind you that it will be even more, if you respect your swim and do not interfere with your journey, as they will respect your trip and will not interfere with your walk.

Here you can learn more about what are the animals that migrate and why they do it.

Its reproduction is sexualthat is to say, The male fertilizes the femaleand it is also a Vivipara reproductionthat is, it retains their young until they are completely formed and can be born. Females mature before males and age depend on species, types, regions, climates and very different factors.

The reproductive organs of the female and the male are hidden under pockets, which makes them more hydrodynamic when they have to swim at high speeds.

They can have one breeding once a year, every two or every three yearssince its cycle is not rigid annual. Generally, the male approaches the female who is ovulating and fertilizing. His gestation lasts between eleven or twelve months; childbirth is painful for the mother and lasts several hours. The breeding feeds on breast milk During his early years, before becoming independent.

Here you can learn more information about lively animals: what are, characteristics and examples.

Here we will see some examples of cetaceans, both mytice and dentalcetes.

Examples of mytite cetaceans

• Rorcual Aliblanco or Dwarf Whale (Balanoptera Acortratrata)
• Blue whale (BALENAPTERA MUSCULUS)
• Humpback whale (MEGAPTERA NOVAEANGLIAE)

Examples of dental cetaceans

• Bottle nose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
• Tercoote (Physeter macrochalus)
• Orca (Orcinus orca)

Discover more examples of cetacean species in our article on the different types of whales and types of dolphins.

Both for Hunting of man, as for the climatological changes that include the lack of natural habitat and lack of foodcertain marine cetaceans are in danger of extinction. For example, some cetaceans in danger of extinction or that are threatened are:

• The Orcas
• The blue whale
• The North Atlantic Free Whale
• Hector’s Dolphin of North Island

In addition, we recommend reading our article about dolphins in danger of extinction.

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