Sea mammals : the past and present lives of our oceans' cornerstone species / Annalisa Berta.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Berta, Annalisa, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Marine mammals.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (225 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Princeton : Princeton University Press, 2023.

Summary:

A richly illustrated introduction to the world's living and extinct sea mammalsFrom the gregarious sea otter and playful dolphins to the sociable narwhal and iconic polar bear, sea mammals are a large, diverse, and increasingly precious group. In this book, Annalisa Berta, a leading expert on sea mammals and their evolution, presents an engaging and richly illustrated introduction to past and present species of these remarkable creatures, from the blue whale and the northern fur seal to the extinct giant sperm whale, aquatic sloth, and walking sea cow.The book features more than 50 individual species profiles, themed chapters, stunning photographs, and specially commissioned paleo-illustrations of extinct species. It presents detailed accounts of these mammals' evolutionary path, anatomy, behavior, habitats, and conservation. And because these are key species that complete many food chains and have the widest influence of all sea life, the book also offers insights into a broad variety of marine worlds today and in the future.

Contents:

Cover

Contents

Introduction

1. Evolution

Skim-feeding Porpoise

Walking Whale

Walrus-like Whale

Aquatic Sloth

Toothed Baleen Whale

Walking Seal

Giant Sperm Whale

Walking Sea Cow

Extinct Sea Cow Relative

Toothless Walrus

Robust-toothed Seal

Oyster Bear

Giant Otter

Echo-hunting Whale

2. Discovery

"King of Lizards"

Pygmy Right Whale

Early Whale

Narwhal

Dugong and Manatees

Sea Cow Communities

Rice's Whale

Sato's Beaked Whale

Fossil Dolphins and Beaked Whales

Tuskless Walrus

Seal Relative

Cerro Ballena

3. Biology

Blue Whale

Killer Whale

Bowhead Whale

Humpback Whale

Hooded Seal

Walrus

Ringed Seal

Amazon River Dolphin

Ribbon Seal

Baikal Seal

4. Behavior

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin

Weddell Seal

Sperm Whale

Spinner Dolphin

Beluga Whale

Dall's Porpoise

West Indian Manatee

Dugong

Galapagos Fur Seal

5. Ecology and Conservation

Vaquita

Amazonian Manatee

Mediterranean Monk Seal

Sea Otter

Steller's Sea Cow

North Atlantic Right Whale

Northern Fur Seal

Northern Elephant Seal

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

Yangtze River Dolphin

Northern Sea Lion

Gray Whale

Antarctic Minke Whale

Harp Seal

Hector's Dolphin

Sea Mink

Polar Bear

Glossary

Assessment of Species Extinction Risk

Classification

Further Reading

Index

Picture Credits

Acknowledgments.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based upon print version of record.

ISBN:

9780691243382

0691243387

OCLC:

1376931401