CETACEANS: WHAT THEY ARE AND EXAMPLES

What are cetaceans?

Cetaceans are an infraorder of placental mammals (the other mammals are the marsupials) which
includes those known as marine mammals. They should not be confused with fishes, which can be
bony fishes and cartilaginous fishes, since they have very particular characteristics. When we talk
about marine mammals they are all cetaceans although not all cetaceans are marine, we must
take into account that there are some freshwater species.Characteristics of cetaceans that
differentiate them from fishes Cetaceans are mammals while fish are not. Although both are
vertebrates, mammals belong to the mammalian class and fish (both cartilaginous and bony) do
not, but are distinct classes. They suckle their young: like all mammals, cetaceans also suckle their
young. This is one of the main characteristics that differentiate them from fish. They have
pulmonary respiration: this is another characteristic that distinguishes them from most fish.
Cetaceans perform their respiratory exchange through lungs and therefore have to surface every
so often to inhale air and breathe. There are some fishes that also have lungs, the lungfishes of
which only 6 species exist and are considered living fossils. They are viviparous: fertilization is
internal and the gestation of the fetus takes place inside the mother's womb as in the rest of
placental mammals. Some sharks such as hammerhead sharks and whitetip sharks are also
viviparous, but most cartilaginous fishes and bony fishes have external fertilization (in the external
environment) and gestation is oviparous (through eggs).

Types of cetaceans

Among cetaceans, two main groups can be distinguished depending on their jaw, which
determines the type of feeding: the mysticete and the odontocete.

Where do cetaceans live?

Most cetaceans live in the marine environment with the exception of some that can live in
freshwater. Freshwater species are usually the most endangered.

Depending on the species they can be found in all the seas and oceans of the world as is the case
of the orca, in other cases, as for example the vaquita is only found in a very specific area of
Mexico and Baja California. In addition, it is the most endangered marine mammal species, since in
2021 the census carried out by the IUCN detected only 8 specimens.

object Past “Be” Past participle verb

Sentence 1 Among cetaceans, Can be distinguished
two main groups
Sentence 2 Depending on the Can be Found
species they
 THE RELATION BETWEEN BIRDS AND DINOSAURS

Background to the evolutionary study of birds

The idea that birds were related to dinosaurs arose in the 19th century, shortly after the
publication of Charles Darwin's book The Origin of Species. At that time, the first fossils of
Archaeopteryx, an extinct genus of primitive birds that shared characteristics with present-day
birds and other dinosaur fossils, were found. At first it was believed that this was the missing link
that alone explained the evolutionary process of birds, but as new dinosaur fossils with feathers
appeared, the evolutionary relevance of Archaeopteryxdeclined. On the other hand, these fossils
gave important support to Darwin's theory of evolution.

Appearance of the ability to fly

This type of feathers have been found in several species of dinosaurs, both flying and terrestrial. It
is believed that their original function was the regulation of body temperature, since they have an
insulating function, and that the ability to fly appeared later. There are two theories in this regard,
one according to which the first birds would have taken off by taking a run from the ground, and
another that maintains that they were arboreal species and that they used them to glide between
the trees, later acquiring the ability to fly. However, some dinosaur species have appeared in the
fossil record that may have lost the ability to fly once acquired, and that would have retained
feathers vestigially. Therefore, it is not clear that the presence of feathers is indicative of a
unidirectional evolutionary process between reptiles and birds. On the other hand, bones are a
clear indicator of biological adaptation to various functions. In the case of birds, many of their
bones are hollow in order to have less weight and facilitate flight. Structures such as the clavicles
or the keel, an extension of the sternum where flight-related muscles are anchored, are good
examples of this. Modern X-ray analysis techniques also allow us to know the structure and
arrangement of internal organs in fossils. Thanks to this, we know that some theropod dinosaurs
had air sacs similar to those of birds. These are hollow spaces inside the organism that contain air,
which is renewed when breathing. Such structures have been found in the lumbar and cervical
vertebrae of several dinosaur species. Their function could be to improve respiratory capacity,
favoring a high metabolic rate, or to allow body cooling by respiration, to control the excess
thermal insulation produced by the feathers. It has also been suggested that these structures may
have arisen in response to a lower level of oxygen in the Atmosphere during the Triassic period.

Object Past “Be” Past Participle Verb

Sentence 1 The idea that birds Were Related
Sentence 2 At first it Was Believed
Sentence 3 Structures such as the clavicles Were Flight-related
or the keel, an extension of the
sternum
Sentence 4 Their function Could be To improve
 LONGEST-LIVED ANIMAL BY ANIMAL GROUP

The longest-living bird

As for birds and terrestrial mammals, they do not reach such an advanced age as turtles. The
Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) reaches 79 years in captivity, and the golden eagle (Aquila
chrysaetos) 46. A case was recorded of a Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) with a
minimum age of 65 years in the wild, as it was banded in 1956 while hatching an egg (these birds
are fertile from 5 years of age) and found again in 2016. Parrots are also quite long-lived in
captivity, the gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus) can live up to 60 years, thus being the longest-lived
of the common pets.

Life span of marine animals

While the longest-lived land animal is the giant tortoise, there are marine animals with an even
longer life expectancy. Deep-sea fish such as coelacanths (Latimeria sp.) live up to 100 years. Sea
lobsters, which do not suffer the effects of old age in adulthood, also reach 100 years of age. The
red sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus), native to the Pacific Ocean, lives more than 30
years, and living specimens have been found to be more than 200 years old. The northern or
bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, can live up to 200 years. Strikingly, in 2007 an individual was
caught that had under its skin the remains of an explosive harpoon, which had ceased to be
manufactured in 1885. Therefore, this individual would have been more than 120 years old when
it was fished. This species of whale is the longest-living mammal in the world.

Object Past “Be” Past Participle Verb

Sentence 1 A case Was Redorded
Sentence 2 with a minimum age Was Banded
of 65 years in the
wild, as it
Sentence 3 Strikingly, in 2007 an Was Caught
individual
Sentence 4 Therefore, this Was Fished
individual would have
been more than 120
years old when it