Cetacea: Aquatic Mammals Quiz

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which order do cetaceans belong to?

Marsupialia

Artiodactyla (correct)

Carnivora

Perissodactyla

What is the meaning of the term 'Cetacea'?

Sea monster

Whale song

Aquatic mammals

Huge fish (correct)

How do cetaceans propel themselves through the water?

Circular movement of their tail

Up-and-down movement of their tail (correct)

Side-to-side movement of their tail

Waving movement of their tail

What is a key characteristic of cetaceans?

Fully aquatic lifestyle Signup and view all the answers

Where do the majority of cetaceans live?

Marine environments Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable feature of cetaceans?

High intelligence Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the International Whaling Commission in relation to commercial whaling?

To regulate and enforce a halt to commercial whaling Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the bristles in baleen whales?

To filter small invertebrates from seawater Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the throat pleats in rorqual family (balaenopterids)?

To expand their mouths to take in food and sieve out the water Signup and view all the answers

Which parvorder of cetaceans includes species like the blue whale and the humpback whale?

Mysticeti or baleen whales Signup and view all the answers

Why do most mysticetes prefer the food-rich colder waters of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

To feed on krill and other small invertebrates found in colder waters Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the teeth in toothed whales?

For catching fish, squid, or other marine invertebrates Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the environmental hazards faced by cetaceans mentioned in the text?

Underwater noise pollution Signup and view all the answers

Which cetacean species is considered to be functionally extinct due to human activity?

(or Chinese river dolphin) Baiji Signup and view all the answers

What are the two parvorders of cetaceans mentioned in the text?

(Mysticeti) and (Odontoceti) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relation between cetaceans and even-toed ungulates according to genetic and fossil evidence?

They are most closely related to hippos within the clade Whippomorpha Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cetacean Classification

Cetaceans belong to the order Cetacea.
The term "Cetacea" comes from the Greek word "ketos", meaning "sea monster".

Cetacean Anatomy and Adaptations

Cetaceans propel themselves through the water using their powerful tails.
A key characteristic of cetaceans is their streamlined bodies, which reduce drag in the water.
Most cetaceans live in the ocean.
A notable feature of cetaceans is their horizontal fluke (tail fin).

Cetacean Feeding Mechanisms

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) regulates commercial whaling.
Baleen whales use bristles to filter krill and other small organisms from the water.
Throat pleats in rorqual whales expand to allow for large volumes of water to be taken in while feeding.

Cetacean Classification - Parvorders

The parvorder Mysticeti includes species like the blue whale and the humpback whale.
Mysticetes prefer colder waters because food is more abundant in these regions.
Toothed whales use their teeth for catching prey.

Conservation Concerns and Cetacean-Ungulate Relationship

Plastic pollution poses an environmental hazard to cetaceans.
The North Atlantic right whale is considered functionally extinct due to human activity.
The two parvorders of cetaceans are Mysticeti (baleen whales) and Odontoceti (toothed whales).
Genetic and fossil evidence suggests that cetaceans share a common ancestor with even-toed ungulates.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge about cetaceans, the infraorder of aquatic mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Learn about their fully aquatic lifestyle, streamlined body shape, and exclusively carnivorous diet.