Marine mammal classification and diversity

domain

eukarya

kingdom

animalia

phylum

chordata

class

mammalia

3 marine mammal orders

carnivora, sirenia, cetacea

order carnivora, family ursidae

polar bears

order carnivora, family mustelidae

sea otters and marine otters

sea otter

marine otter or sea cat

order carnivora, pinnipeds

otariidae, Phocidae, Odobenidae

order carnivora, family otariidae

fur seals and sea lions

characteristics of otariidae

hinged hind flippers, dense underfur, nails on hind flippers

characteristics or a fur seal

dense underfur, short nose, large ear pinnae, large flippers

characteristics of a sea lion

large size, small ear pinnae

order carnivora, family phocidae

true seals

characteristics or true seals

no external ears, no hinged hind limbs, nails on all 5 digits front and back

order carnivora, family Odobenidae

walruses

characteristics of a odobenidae

hinged hind flippers (land mobility) no external ears, enlarged canine teeth (up to 1 meter long)

order sirenia family trichechidae

manatees

characteristics of manatees

round tail, marching molars, nails

order sirenia, family dugongidae

dugongs

dugong characteristics

“mermaid tail” small pair of tusk and a few molars, no nails