Marine Biology

A Taxonomic Classification of Marine Mammals

Most of these groups are made up entirely of animals that live in seas, oceans, rivers or lakes.  Some groups have members that include both marine and land (or terrestrial) species.  For example, sea otters are considered marine mammals but are in the same family as skunks and weasels which are strictly land animals.  Most bears are not classified as marine mammals, but  polar bears are.  They spend a great deal of their lives in the sea and are listed as a protected marine mammal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as are all  the animals given below. 

Classification:

Kingdom   : Animalia    (Animals )

Phylum   : Chordata  (Animals with notochords)

Subphylum: Vertebrata (Vertebrates)

Class :  Mammalia ( Mammals)

 There are four orders

1.Order :Cetacea    (Cetaceans )

               i)Suborder: Odontoceti  (Toothed Cetaceans)

Family: Physeteridae  - Sperm Whales

Family: Ziphiidae - Beaked Whales

Family: Delphinidae - Marine Dolphins

Family: Platanistidae* - Freshwater Dolphins

Family:  Phocoenidae - Porpoises

Family:  Monodontidae - Belugas & Narwhals

 

ii)Suborder : Mysticeti  ( Baleen Whales )

     Family: Balaenopteridae -  Rorquals

     Family:  Balaenidae -  Right Whales

     Family:  Eschrichtiidae - Gray Whales

 

2.Order :  Pinnipedia (Pinnipeds)

             Suborder:  None

Family:  Phocidae - True or Earless Seals

Family:  Otariidae -  Sea Lions or Eared Seals

Family:  Odobenidae - Walruses

 3.Order :  Sirenia* -  Dugongs & Manatees

                Suborder:  None

Family: Dugongidae^{* -}  Dugongs

Family: Trichechidae* - Manatees

 4.Order: Carnivora* -  Carnivores

       Suborder :  None

 Family: Mustelidae* - Sea Otters

 Family: Ursidae* -  Polar Bears

 *These groups also include non—marine species.