Aquatic mammals

Introduction

Figure 1 Bottlenose dolphins

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Two bottlenose dolphins swimming in the sea.

Figure 1 Bottlenose dolphins

Mammals come in a bewildering variety of shapes and sizes and yet all of the 4700 or so species have some characteristics in common. Indeed, it’s the existence of these common features that justifies the inclusion of all such diverse types within the single taxonomic group (or class) called the Mammalia. Mammals evolved on land, but a number of species have become adapted to spending part or all of their lives in water and it is these mammals that you are going to concentrate on.

In this free course, Aquatic mammals, you are going to meet some aquatic mammals, find out how we can study them, consider their evolutionary history and read about human impacts on one iconic group.

This OpenLearn course provides a sample of level 1 study in Environment & Development [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .