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Ocean Wild Things

Cetacean evolution: whale and dolphin ancient history

April 8, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

For obvious reasons it’s tough to find good photos or drawings of long gone ancient whales and dolphins, so instead I am using a drawing of several of today’s modern whales for this post. Scientists have concluded that whales, dolphins and porpoises have evolved from Archaeocetes, the name given to a group of ancient whales.… [read more]

Filed Under: Dolphins, Marine mammals, Porpoises, Whales Tagged With: cetacean, dolphin, evolution, extinct, gillnet fishing, porpoise, whale

Cetacean communities and coexistence

April 7, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

How do whales, dolphins and porpoises all get along and share their ocean home? This question is another one scientists hope to answer through the study of cetacean ecology. Possibly they make pacts with each other and agree to go after different prey and stay in certain locations to prevent fighting over resources and bad… [read more]

Filed Under: Dolphins, Marine mammals, Porpoises, Whales Tagged With: baleen, cetacean, dolphin, krill, lunge feeding, porpoise, whale

4 main types of cetacean prey

April 6, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft 2 Comments

1. The first types of prey that many cetaceans prefer are tiny critters that form large schools closer to the surface. This includes several types of crustaceans (krill) and small fish (sardines, anchovies). And ironically enough, the largest whales prefer this type of dinner and have a built-in filter system called baleen that allows them… [read more]

Filed Under: Dolphins, Marine mammals, Porpoises, Whales Tagged With: baleen, cetacean, crustacean, dolphin, killer whale, krill, pinniped, sea lion, seal, whale

Cetacean ecology: living in a water world

April 5, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

Whales, dolphins and porpoises live in a water world and face such a different day to day experience that it’s hard to imagine. Yet, they are mammals like us and seem to make it work despite dealing with an alternate universe here on earth…the ocean. As the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals points out, cetaceans live… [read more]

Filed Under: Dolphins, Marine mammals, Porpoises, Whales Tagged With: cetacean, dolphin, porpoise, whale

Cetacean ecology

March 31, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft 1 Comment

I have to say that once I saw the title of the next article in the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, my eyes instantly started to glaze over. But thankfully I pulled it together, started reading and it turns out that cetacean ecology is pretty interesting. Just a quick recap for people wondering what a cetacean… [read more]

Filed Under: Dolphins, Marine mammals, Porpoises, Whales Tagged With: cetacean, dolphin, ecology, porpoise, whale

Balance: the inner ear of whales

January 18, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

Everyone is talking about balance these days, work/life balance, nutritional balance, balance balls, the need for more balance in day to day life, but little is mentioned about the very important vital sense organ that keeps you truly balanced: the inner ear. Without a functioning inner ear your world would be spinning out of control… [read more]

Filed Under: Dolphins, Marine mammals, Porpoises, Whales Tagged With: anatomy, cetacean, dolphin, porpoise, whale

Archaeocetes: ancestors of the whales

December 11, 2009 by Carolyn Kraft 3 Comments

Today’s whales, dolphins and porpoises can trace their ancestry to Archaeocetes, the name given to a group of prehistoric whales that lived 55 to 34 million years ago. However, these animals looked nothing like whales. Well I’m being overly dramatic; one looks kind of like a whale, but it not exactly. Based on the drawings… [read more]

Filed Under: Dolphins, Marine mammals, Porpoises, Whales Tagged With: cetacean, dolphin, extinct, porpoise, whale

Age Estimation in Marine Mammals: the answer lies in a dolphin’s smile

November 6, 2009 by Carolyn Kraft 3 Comments

Ah, the question we all wonder at one time or another. How old or how young is a certain person? Humans are tricky subjects for age guessing depending on race, sun exposure, dyed hair, plastic surgery and general health upkeep. Unless you are willing to just ask and make it easy; assuming whoever it is tells you… [read more]

Filed Under: Dolphins, Marine mammals, Porpoises, Whales Tagged With: cetacean, dolphin, porpoise, whale

The Vaquita Porpoise: the most endangered marine mammal in the world

November 5, 2009 by Carolyn Kraft 3 Comments

In the Gulf of California, the body of water between Mexico’s mainland and the Baja California Peninsula, exists the Vaquita. Now what is the Vaquita you ask? Depending on your persuasions the name brings to mind different things. Possibly it’s a fancy cocktail drink that clubbers order, “I’ll take another Vaquita on the rocks please.”… [read more]

Filed Under: Easy Reader columns, Marine mammals, Porpoises Tagged With: cetacean, dorsal fin, endangered, porpoise

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