Classification of Dolphins Flashcards

Study Notes

Animalia: Represents the kingdom that includes all animal forms, characterized by multicellular organisms that are generally motile during some life stages.
Chordata: Refers to animals possessing a notochord, often developing into a backbone. This phylum includes all vertebrates and some invertebrates.
Mammalia: Denotes warm-blooded animals known for their ability to regulate body temperature, typically have fur or hair, and nurse their young with milk.
Cetacea: Encompasses primarily aquatic mammals, including whales, dolphins, and porpoises, adapted to life in the water with streamlined bodies.
Delphinidae: Identifies the family of marine mammals that includes dolphins. Members are known for their intelligence and complex social structures.
Tursiops: Specific genus name for bottlenose dolphins, one of the most recognized and studied species of dolphins.
Truncatus: Describes a physical characteristic meaning shortened or cut-off, often used in biological nomenclature to refer to species with specific body shapes or adaptations.