Whales and Seals: Biology and Ecology

by Pierre-Henry Fontaine

Overview

Provided here is a detailed picture of the lives and environments of whales and seals, including chapters on anatomy, adaptation to aquatic life, nutrition, migration, reproduction, and paracites and enemies. The interaction of man with these marine animals is also explored, as is their paleontology. New information and 678 color diagrams and illustrations help illuminate the lives of these mysterious animals. At the end of the text, fact sheets about the Mysticetes, Odontocetes, and Pinnipeds, a glossary, and an extensive bibliography provide additional information essential to the study of whales and seals, leaving the reader more fully informed. With this book, all readers, from the curious to the scientist, will find much to further their knowledge of, and fire their passions for, these impressive denizens of the deep.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764327919
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
Publication date:	06/28/2007
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Pierre-Henry Fontaine is a biologist, recognized whale expert, and consultant to museums in Europe and North America.

Table of Contents

Specific Environmental Adaptations of Cetaceans 13

Density 13

Viscosity 15

Skeleton 16

General Body Shape 28

Body Surface 29

Thermal Conductivity 31

Swimming 36

Pinnipeds Locomotion 41

Walking on the Ground or Ice 41

Underwater Locomotion 42

Diving 42

Marine Mammals and Nitrogen 50

Toxicity 51

Tissue Supersaturation 51

Diving Adaptations in the Sperm whale 54

Circulatory System 58

Perceiving the Environment 61

Touch 61

Cetaceans 61

Pinnipeds 64

Olfaction 66

Taste 68

Vision 69

Hearing 73

Communication and Echolocation (Audiodetection) 81

Strandings 95

Nutrition 107

Odontocetes 107

Mysticetes 117

Pinnipeds 139

Marine Ecosystems and Food Resources 141

Migrations 147

Osmoregulation 155

Reproduction 161

Male Genitalia 162

Female Genitalia 168

Mating 170

Gestation 172

Pinnipeds 175

Lactation 176

Growth 180

Caring for the Young 181

Pinnipeds 182

Parasites and Enemies 183

Whales and Humans 193

Hunting or "Fishing" 193

The Basques and Whale Hunting 195

After the Basques 204

Pollution 210

Accidental Catches 212

Whales as Resources 213

Pinnipeds 221

Research 225

Historical Photography 234

Paleontology 245

Cetaceans Phylogeny 245

Problems with Fossils 246

Cetaceans Characteristics 248

Early Archeocetes 252

Adaptations to an Aquatic Life 253

Development of the Tail as a Propelling Tool 255

Remingtonocetids 255

Kutchicetus, Remintonocetidae 256

Basilosaurids 256

Odontocetes 260

Mysticetes 260

Archaic Odontocetes 261

Mysticetes 262

Archaic Mysticetes 262

Modern Mysticetes 264

Mounting Marine Mammals Skeletons 271

Mounting 279

Errors Made in Mounting CetaceansSkeletons 280

Causes of the Errors 281

Techniques 287

Fact Sheets 291

The Cetacea 292

The Mysticetes 293

The Bowhead Whale or Greenland Right Whale 294

The Black Right Whale 296

The Blue Whale 301

The Fin Whale 307

The Minke Whale 314

The Humpback Whale 321

The Sei Whale 328

The Tropical or Bryde's Whale 331

The Odontocetes 335

The Beluga Whale or White Whale 336

The Narwhal 342

The Sperm Whale 346

The Pygmy Sperm Whale 352

The Northern Bottlenose Whale 355

The Harbour Porpoise 361

The Pilot Whale or Long-Finned Pilot Whale 365

The Short-Finned Pilot Whale 370

The Killer Whale 371

The White-Sided Dolphin 375

The White-Beaked Dolphin 378

The Common Dolphin 380

The Striped Dolphin 383

The Bottlenose Dolphin 385

The Pinnipeds 390

Harbour Seal 391

Harp Seal 396

Grey Seal 401

Hooded Seal 405

Walrus 409

Northern Elephant Seal 414

Glossary 423

Bibliography 434