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Studying mammals: Return to the water
Studying mammals: Return to the water

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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.