Marine mammals are a diverse group of mammals that live in marine ecosystems around the world. They have unique physical adaptations that allow them to thrive in the marine environment with extreme temperatures, depths, pressure, and darkness. Marine mammals are classified into four different taxonomic groups: cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), sirenians (manatees and dugongs), and marine fissipeds (polar bears and sea otters) .
Here are some examples of marine mammals:
- Cetaceans: This group includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
- Pinnipeds: This group includes seals, sea lions, and walruses.
- Sirenians: This group includes manatees and dugongs.
- Marine fissipeds: This group includes polar bears and sea otters.
Marine mammals inhabit waters in all the worlds oceans, and the highest diversity of marine mammals is generally in cool, temperate regions. Some species, like the vaquita porpoise, have very limited ranges of only a few hundred miles, while others follow annual migration paths of thousands of miles across oceans.
