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Some of the most unusual and versatile of all the mammals are the groups that live, feed and reproduce underwater. In this free course, Studying mammals: Return to the water, we will see how these formerly land-based mammals adapted to a return to the water, discussing such challenges as breathing, movement and communication. This is the seventh course in the Studying mammals series.
FREE
This course includes
Hours of videos
Units & Quizzes
0
Unlimited Lifetime access
Access on mobile app
Certificate of Completion
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:- contrast the physical properties of air and water and describe implications of such differences for aquatic mammals
- give examples of the adaptations displayed by aquatic mammals that enable them to hold their breath while submerged for relatively long periods
- describe some of the biological differences between pinnipeds, sirenians and cetaceans
- discuss the importance of communication by sound in aquatic mammals, describe the role of blubber and explain countercurrent heat exchange
- explain the diving response and its significance in natural dives.
