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CETACEA Quintessential Mammals? Mammalogy – EEOB 625 27 February 2004
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Origins & Evolution : Another problem in macroevolution Were the first cetaceans herbivores or carnivores? Order Condylartha: ancestor to several ungulate taxa and cetaceans Pakicetus: an archaeocete of the Eocene, primitive? Heterodont, Skull not telescoped Neomorphic structures: tail fluke, dorsal fin
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Horse Archaeocete Odontocete Mysticete Feldhamer 16.4, see Vaughan Fig. 13-5
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Adaptive Zones of Odontoceti and Mysticeti Body Size, Habitat, & Feeding specializations Advantages & disadvantages of large size? Seasonal & geographic variation in zooplankton as a food resource Food, migration, reproduction: Why might whales (mysticetes) be quintessential mammals? 1.__________, 2 ___________, 3___________ Relative success of the two suborders
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Fig. 16.7 Feldhamer
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McVay, Am. Sci 61:24
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Phylogeny & Classification of Odontoceti and Mysticeti Origin and evolution of cetaceans cladogram/ phylogeny Fig. 13-9 Is Cetacea a monophyletic taxon? Are the two suborders valid taxa? Probably, but are sperm whales and humpback whales closely related? Relative “success ” of the two suborders
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Suborder Mysticeti Baleen: What is it? Feeding behavior & adaptations of the 3 families: Balaenidae – swim & skim Balaenopteridae – gulp & strain Eschrichtiidae – strain sediments
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Fig. 16.9, Feldhamer Minke Gray Blue Size & shape of baleen plates Bowhead
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Fig 4. McVey Balaenidae
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Balaenopteridae grand gulpers
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Eschrichtiide Feeds on benthic invertebrates National Geographic
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Suborder Odontoceti Most diverse and abundant Delphinidae ‑ 32 species, marine & freshwater (river) species Physeteridae ‑ sperm whales and whale strandings What about Plantanistidae?
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Fig. 16.11, Feldhamer
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Physeteridae Sperm whale Nat’l Geographic, 150:722a
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The End Evolution & Systematics
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