173 Chapter 12—Marine Mammals
Chapter 12—Marine Mammals
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. All marine mammals:
a.
are faster swimmers compared to other marine animals.
b.
have lungs modified to breathe underwater.
c.
are aggressive in obtaining food.
d.
are intelligent compared to other marine animals.
e.
have baleen.
2. All the following are characteristics of marine mammals except:
a.
mammary glands.
b.
gills.
c.
a placenta.
d.
being homeothermic.
3. Marine mammals, because of the energy demands of being homeothermic, expend about ____ times as
much energy as other marine organisms.
a.
5
b.
10
c.
15
d.
20
e.
25
4. Sea otters are protected from the cold by having:
a.
thick blubber.
b.
thick fur.
c.
waxy fur.
d.
fatty tissue.
e.
thick skin.
5. Sea otters consume nearly ____% of their body weight per day.
a.
10
b.
25
c.
30
d.
40
e.
50
6. Sea lions and seals belong to the suborder:
a.
Carnivora.
b.
Sirenia.
c.
Cetacea.
d.
Pinnipedia.
e.
Odontoceti.
7. Pinnipeds molt
a.
in the ocean.
b.
on shore.
c.
in the winter.
d.
throughout the year.
e.
They do not molt.
8. Pinniped means
a.
clawed footed.
b.
flipper footed.
c.
feather footed.
d.
paddle footed.
e.
split footed.
9. In eared seals, the main propulsive force for swimming is produced by the:
a.
forelimbs.
b.
hindlimbs.
c.
undulations of the body.
d.
tail.
e.
caudal fin.
10. True seals’ characteristics include
a.
lack of external ear.
b.
swimming with forelimbs.
c.
swimming with hind limbs.
d.
both a and c
e.
both a and b.
11. The Otariidae characteristics include
a.
external ears.
b.
swimming with hind limbs.
c.
swimming with fore limbs.
d.
both a and c.
e.
both a and b.
12. Which of the following species is endangered
a.
California sea lion
b.
northern fur seal
c.
Steller’s sea lion
d.
both a and b
13. All the following are all major points of the article Where Have the Steller’s Sea Lions Gone except:
a.
Some biologists thought commercial fishing was culprit.
b.
Killer whales may play a role in pinniped population regulation.
c.
Scientific views undergo revision with new data and findings.
d.
Scientists often come to contradictory conclusions when examining the same
phenomenon.
e.
Steller’s sea lions decimated the salmon population in Alaska.
14. Which pinniped can use its hind limbs to walk on land?
a.
Guadalupe fur seal
b.
Steller’s sea lion
c.
leopard seal
d.
elephant seal
e.
harbor seal
15. The deepest diving pinnipeds are the:
a.
sea lions.
b.
harbor seals.
c.
Weddell seals.
d.
elephant seals.
e.
Stellar’s sea lion.
16. Known for the ability to dive deep, the ____ has set a record of 1530 m.
a.
harbor seal
b.
Weddel seal
c.
Steller’s sea lion
d.
leopard seal
e.
northern elephant seal
17. Male animals that mate with and control more than one female at a time are called:
a.
hermaphroditic.
b.
heterogenous.
c.
polygynous.
d.
androgynous.
e.
monogamous.
18. Most pinnipeds mate:
a.
every two years.
b.
every four years.
c.
once in their lifetime.
d.
annually.
e.
every three years.
19. The leopard seal’s primary predator is called the:
a.
sperm whale.
b.
polar bear.
c.
killer whale.
d.
salt water crocodile.
e.
Weddel seal.
20. The ____ feeds on penguins and other seals.
a.
Guadalupe fur seal
b.
elephant seal
c.
Steller’s sea lion
d.
leopard seal
e.
harbor seal
21. The structure used to amplify an elephant seal bull’s roar is a(n):
a.
inflated proboscis.
b.
hallow tusk used as a horn.
c.
sirenaphores.
d.
blowhole.
e.
melon.
22. The entertaining seals of marine attraction parks are:
a.
sea lions.
b.
harbor seals.
c.
elephant seals.
d.
fur seals.
e.
harp seals.
23. Manatees and dugongs belong to the order:
a.
Pinnipedia.
b.
Cetacea.
c.
Carnivora.
d.
Sirenia.
e.
Fissipedia
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24. The sirenians
a.
rest on shore.
b.
bear young on land.
c.
are completely aquatic.
d.
are fish eaters.
e.
don’t have blubber since they live in tropical water
25. The following are all differences between manatees and dugongs except:
a.
fresh and seawater habitat for manatees, dugongs only live in seawater.
b.
dugongs have a larger head.
c.
dugongs have a shorter flipper.
d.
manatees’ forelimbs form flippers, dugongs’ do not.
26. The following are all similarities between sirenians and whales except:
a.
streamlined, practically hairless bodies.
b.
forelimbs modified to form flippers.
c.
tail flukes.
d.
diet of macrophytes.
27. Manatees are mostly found in:
a.
cold polar waters.
b.
Antarctica.
c.
tropical estuaries.
d.
temperate coastal areas.
e.
Eastern Pacific Ocean.
28. The greatest threat to the Florida manatees is
a.
loss of habitat.
b.
human predation.
c.
being mauled or killed by boats.
d.
stranding in thermal plumes of power plants.
e.
disease from urban runoff.
29. Manatees feed mostly on:
a.
small fishes.
b.
benthic invertebrates.
c.
plankton.
d.
aquatic plants.
e.
other marine mammals.
30. Whales, dolphins, and porpoises all belong to the order:
a.
Sirenia.
b.
Cetacea.
c.
Carnivora.
d.
Pinnipedia.
e.
Fissipedia.
31. Those marine mammals most adapted to a marine existence are the
a.
pinnipeds.
b.
sirenians.
c.
cetaceans.
d.
sea otters.
32. It is believed that cetaceans evolved from:
a.
a terrestrial mammal.
b.
a pinniped.
c.
fishes.
d.
polychaetes.
e.
dinosaurs.
33. Through evolution, the hindlimbs of cetaceans have been modified, eventually becoming
a.
flippers.
b.
tail.
c.
non-existent.
d.
flukes.
e.
enlarged.
34. To reduce drag whales have eliminated
a.
external ears.
b.
pectoral fins.
c.
external appendages.
d.
mammary glands.
e.
flukes.
35. The absence of sweat glands in cetaceans aids in
a.
maintaining body heat.
b.
conserving water.
c.
increasing internal salinity.
d.
reducing drag.
e.
swimming efficiency.
36. Adaptations for deep diving in cetaceans include all the following except:
a.
expelling air from the lungs.
b.
large lungs with large number of air sacs.
c.
rib cage that can collapse.
d.
sonar for detecting the depth.
e.
high red blood cell count
37. Adaptations for deep diving in cetaceans include all the following except:
a.
large amount of hemoglobin.
b.
large amount of cholesterol.
c.
lowered sensitivity to lactic acid.
d.
high levels of myglobin.
e.
decreased metabolism.
38. Myoglobin is a protein found in the muscles of cetaceans that:
a.
stores energy.
b.
stores oxygen.
c.
maintains buoyancy.
d.
maintains heat.
e.
stores ATP.
39. The milk of cetaceans is very rich in:
a.
fat.
b.
protein.
c.
carbohydrates.
d.
cellulose.
e.
DNA.
40. Baleen plates are composed of:
a.
calcium carbonate.
b.
cellulose.
c.
keratin.
d.
chitin.
e.
silica.
41. The food of most baleen whales consists of:
a.
benthic invertebrates.
b.
nektonic fishes.
c.
algae.
d.
plankton.
e.
detritus.
42. Bubble nets for confusing and trapping plankton are produced by:
a.
gray whales.
b.
humpback whales.
c.
minke whales.
d.
sperm whales.
e.
dolphins.
43. Fin whales feed mostly on:
a.
benthic invertebrates.
b.
nektonic fishes.
c.
algae.
d.
krill.
e.
detritus.
44. The largest of all the whales is the:
a.
sperm whale.
b.
sei whale.
c.
humpback whale.
d.
blue whale.
e.
megalodon.
45. Breaching is the name given to the activity of whales when they:
a.
mate.
b.
jump out of the water.
c.
capture their food.
d.
migrate long distances.
e.
give birth.
46. Spy hopping is a term given to whales when they:
a.
jump out of the water.
b.
partially get their body out of the water.
c.
capture their food.
d.
mate.
e.
play in groups.
47. Spy hopping behavior is thought to be for
a.
mating.
b.
observing objects other than whales on the surface.
c.
capturing their food.
d.
attracting a mate.
e.
communicating with podmates.
48. Tail cocking behavior in whales is thought to be for
a.
killing prey.
b.
attracting mates.
c.
aggression.
d.
preparation for a dive.
e.
dislodging parasites.
49. A group of whales is called a
a.
harem.
b.
pod.
c.
covey.
d.
herd.
e.
bevy.
50. The only population of humpback whales that is showing recovery from the effects of whaling is the:
a.
North Pacific population.
b.
North Atlantic population.
c.
Maui population.
d.
Southern Hemisphere population.
e.
Southern Pacific population.
51. Which whale is not a rorqual?
a.
blue whale
b.
fin whale
c.
humpback whale
d.
right whale
e.
killer whale
52. A whale that floated when harpooned was called a(n) ____.
a.
orca
b.
right whale
c.
blue whale
d.
fin whale
e.
sperm whale
53. All of the following are members of suborder Odontoceti, except:
a.
dolphins.
b.
sperm whales.
c.
narwhales.
d.
gray whales.
e.
orcas.
54. All of the following are members of suborder Mysticeti, except:
a.
humpback whales.
b.
right whales.
c.
orcas.
d.
blue whales.
e.
fin whales.
55. The baleen whale which carries the most barnacles is the
a.
right whale.
b.
sperm whale.
c.
gray whale.
d.
orca.
e.
blue whale.
56. The melon of dolphins and other toothed whales is used for:
a.
storage of food.
b.
protecting the brain.
c.
focusing sound pulses.
d.
receiving sound pulses.
e.
producing sounds.
57. One of the most favored food items of sperm whales is:
a.
giant squid.
b.
penguins.
c.
plankton.
d.
seals.
e.
smaller cetaceans.
58. Ambergris comes from the ____.
a.
right whale
b.
sperm whale
c.
gray whale
d.
orca
e.
blue whale
59. The only cetaceans known to feed on warm-blooded animals are the:
a.
sperm whales.
b.
bottlenose dolphins.
c.
killer whales.
d.
porpoises.
e.
minke whales.
183 Chapter 12—Marine Mammals
TRUE/FALSE
60. Pinnipeds have to come ashore to give birth.
61. True seals rely on their hindlimbs for forward swimming propulsion.
62. In eared seals, the hindlimbs can rotate at right angles to the body and can be used for walking on land.
63. Sea lions have shorter lactation periods than true seals.
64. Unlike pinnipeds, sirenians are completely free from the terrestrial environment.
65. Manatees form pair bonds that last even after mating.
66. The cetacean body is covered with fine hairs.
67. Cetaceans lack sweat glands in their skin.
68. Gray whales spend the winter months in the Bering Sea where they mate and give birth.
69. Vision in toothed whales is very strong.
70. Toothed whales use low frequency clicks to make out the outline of potential prey.
71. The spermaceti of sperm whales is composed of waxy and oily materials.
184 Chapter 12—Marine Mammals
72. Ambergris is produced by dolphins.
73. Dolphins have a beak whereas porpoises have a rounded blunt head.
MATCHING
Match the food with the most closely associated whale.
a.
squid
b.
crabs, cuttlefish, flounder and halibut
c.
krill
74. Beluga Whale
75. Sperm Whale
76. Blue Whale
Match the food with the closely associated predator.
a.
crustaceans, molluscs and echinoderms
b.
fish
c.
sea urchins
d.
water plants
77. Sea Otter
78. Eared Seals
79. Walruses
80. Dugong
Match the food item with the animal that consumes it.
a.
vegetation
b.
plankton
c.
fish, squid
81. Toothed Whales
82. Baleen Whales
83. Sirenians
Match the location with the species.
a.
southeastern United States
b.
South America
c.
Africa
d.
Indo-pacific
84. Trichechus manatus
85. Trichechus senegalensis
86. Trichechus inunguis
87. Dungong dugon
Match the population characteristic with the species.
a.
endangered
b.
extinct
c.
population size 1.8 million
d.
population size 22,000
88. Steller’s Sea Cow
89. Northern Manatee
90. Sperm whale
91. Eastern Pacific Gray Whale
Match the insulation with the closely associated animal.
a.
Fur
b.
Fur and fat
c.
Blubber
92. Whales
93. Sea Otter
94. Sea Lion
Match the prey detection method with the most closely associated animal.
a.
manipulating with flippers
b.
echolocation
c.
eyesight
95. Dolphins
96. Seals
97. Sirenians
186 Chapter 12—Marine Mammals
Match the possible importance of a whale behavior with its most closely associated behavior.
a.
establishing dominance
b.
marking position
c.
looking around
98. Spy Hopping
99. Breaching
100. Slapping
Match the possible importance of a whale behavior with its most closely associated behavior.
a.
marking a position
b.
unknown
c.
aggressive behavior
101. Tail Slapping
102. Tail Cocking
103. Flipper Flapping
Match the purpose with the mechanism it is most closely associated with.
a.
locate prey
b.
trap prey near surface
c.
filter feed
104. Baleen plates
105. Bubble net
106. Strong sonar pulse
ESSAY
107. List the three major groups of pinnipeds and outline the anatomical differences between them.
108. Describe at least 3 physiological adaptations in pinnipeds that enable them to dive deep.
109. You are the aquarium keeper at a large oceanarium. The facility acquires a manatee, and you are
charged with its care. Explain what you would feed it.
110. Describe the feeding behavior of humpback whales. Why do they employ this type of food capture
method?
111. List the 3 major groups of baleen whales and give their major features.
112. Why must sea otters consume 25% of their body weight in food every day?
113. What reproductive benefit is obtained by the polygynous sexual habits of many marine mammals, such
as elephant seals?
114. Explain why phocids, especially ones living in polar areas, generally have very short lactation periods
compared to eared seals.
115. Compare sirenians and cetaceans, describing 4 ways that they are similar.
116. Describe the fossil and embryological evidence for the terrestrial origins of cetaceans.
189 Chapter 12—Marine Mammals
117. Describe at least 3 adaptations of modern whales adapted for a completely aquatic existence.
118.
Explain the unique purpose of baleen plates. What trophic position do baleen whales occupy, and what
advantage is it to the baleen whales to consume the diet they do?