Marine Mammals of the World: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Identification

With coverage on all the marine mammals of the world, authors Jefferson, Webber, and Pitman have created a user-friendly guide to identify marine mammals alive in nature (at sea or on the beach), dead specimens “in hand”, and also to identify marine mammals based on features of the skull. This handy guide provides marine biologists and interested lay people with detailed descriptions of diagnostic features, illustrations of external appearance, beautiful photographs, dichotomous keys, and more. Full color illustrations and vivid photographs of every living marine mammal species are incorporated, as well as comprehendible maps showing a range of information. For readers who desire further consultation, authors have included a list of literature references at the end of each species account. For an enhanced understanding of habitation, this guide also includes recognizable geographic forms described separately with colorful paintings and photographs. All of these essential tools provided make Marine Mammals of the World the most detailed and authoritative guide available!

• Contains superb photographs of every species of marine mammal for accurate identification
• Authors’ collective experience adds up to 80 years, and have seen nearly all of the species and distinctive geographic forms described in the guide
• Provides the most detailed and anatomically accurate illustrations currently available
• Special emphasis is placed on the identification of species in “problem groups,” such as the beaked whales, long-beaked oceanic dolphin, and southern fur seals
• Includes a detailed list of sources for more information at the back of the book.

Marine biologists, laypeople interested in a guide to marine mammals.

Dedication

Preface and Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: Introduction

The Need for This Guide

Marine Mammal Identification and How to Use This Guide

Notes on the Format of the Species Accounts

Notes on the Dichotomous Keys

Request For Feedback from Users

Chapter 2: Basic Marine Mammal Biology

What is a Marine Mammal?

Types of Marine Mammals

Evolutionary History

Zoogeography, Distribution, and Migration

Anatomy and Physiology

Life History and Reproduction

Feeding Ecology

Predation/Parasites/Disease

Behavior and Social Organization

Standings

Exploitation and Conservation

Chapter 3: Taxonomic Groupings Above the Species Level

Order Cetacea— Whales, dolphins, and porpoises

Suborder Mysticeti—Baleen whales

Family Balaenidae—Right and bowhead whales

Family Neobalaenidae—Pygmy right whale

Family Balaenopteridae—Rorquals

Family Eschrichtiidae—Gray whale

Suborder Odontoceti—Toothed whales

Family Physeteridae—Sperm whale

Family Kogiidae—Pygmy and dwarf sperm whales

Family Monodontidae—Narwhal and beluga whale

Family Ziphiidae—Beaked whales

Family Delphinidae—Marine dolphins

Family Phocoenidae—Porpoises

Family Platanistidae—South Asian river dolphin

Family Iniidae—Boto

Family Lipotidae—Baiji

Family Pontoporiidae—Franciscana

Order Sirenia—Manatees and dugongs

Family Trichechidae—Manatees

Family Dugongidae—Dugong

Order Carnivora—Carnivorous mammals (including pinnipeds, marine otters, and polar bears)

Family Mustelidae—Otters

Family Ursidae—Bears

Suborder Pinnipedia—Seals, sea lions, and walruses

Family Otariidae—Eared seals

Family Odobenidae—Walrus

Family Phocidae—True seals

Chapter 4: Cetaceans

Chapter 5: Pinnipeds

Recognizable geographic forms

Chapter 6: Sirenian and Other Species

Recognizable geographic forms

Chapter 7: Extinct Species

Chapter 8: Dichotomous Identification Keys

Chapter 9: Summaries of Characters for Similar Species

Glossary of Technical Terms

References

Index—Common Names

Index—Scientific Names