River dolphinRiver dolphins, also called freshwater dolphins, are a polyphyletic group of fully aquatic mammals that reside exclusively in freshwater or even in brackish water. They are an informal grouping of dolphins, which itself is a paraphyletic group within the infraorder Cetacea. These dolphins are placed in three superfamilies, Platanistoidea (Platanistidae), Inioidea (Iniidae and Pontoporiidae) and Lipotoidea (Lipotidae).
Marine mammalMammals that rely on marine environments for feedingA humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)A leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)Marine mammals are mammals that rely on marine ecosystems for their existence. They include animals such as cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians, marine otters, sea otters and polar bears. They are an informal group, unified only by their reliance on marine environments for feeding and survival.
Eurasian otterThe Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, European river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia and the Maghreb. It is the most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae) and is found in the waterways and on the coasts of Europe, much of Asia, and parts of North Africa. The Eurasian otter eats mainly fish, and is strongly territorial.
Amazonian manateeThe Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), commonly referred to as cowfish in Brazil, is a species of manatee that lives in the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. It has thin, wrinkled brownish or gray colored skin, with fine hairs scattered over its body and a white chest patch. It is the smallest of the three extant species of manatee. TaxonomyThe specific name, inunguis is Latin for "nailless".
Aquatic ecosystemAn aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem found in and around a body of water, in contrast to land-based terrestrial ecosystems. Aquatic ecosystems contain communities of organisms—aquatic life—that are dependent on each other and on their environment. The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems.
MammalClass of animals with milk-producing glandsA mammal (from Latin mamma 'breast') is a vertebrate animal of the classMammalia (). Mammals are characterized by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three middle ear bones. These characteristics distinguish them from reptiles and birds, from which their ancestors diverged in the Carboniferous period over 300 million years ago.
Body of waterA body of water is a significant accumulation of water on the surface of the earth. The term most often refers to oceans, seas, and lakes, but it includes smaller pools of water such as ponds, wetlands, or more rarely, puddles. A body of water does not have to be still or contained; rivers, streams, canals, and other geographical features where accumulated water moves from one place to another are also considered bodies of water.
CapybaraThe capybara (/kæp.ɪˈbɑːr.ə,-băr′ə/) or greater capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest living rodent, native to all countries in South America except Chile. It is a semiaquaticherbivore that inhabits savannas and dense forests, living near and in bodies of freshwater and feeding mainly on grasses and aquatic plants. Together with the lesser capybara, it constitutes the genus Hydrochoerus.
SemiaquaticIn biology, being semiaquatic refers to various macro-organisms that live regularly in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. When referring to animals, the term describes those that actively spend part of their daily time in water (in which case they can also be called amphibious), or land animals that have spent at least one life stage (e.g. as eggs or larvae) in aquatic environments.
Baikal sealThe Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica), also known as Lake Baikal seal or nerpa (), is a species of earless sealendemic to Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia. The Baikal seal is one of the smallest earless/true seals, and one of the few exclusively freshwater pinniped species. The related Caspian seal inhabits another lake, albeit being saltwater, the Caspian Sea. Both species are closely related to the ringed seal, which inhabits the Arctic Ocean.
OceanBody of salt water covering most of EarthThe ocean is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of Earth. The ocean is conventionally divided into large bodies of water, which are also referred to as oceans (in descending order by area: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Antarctic/Southern Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean), and are themselves mostly divided into seas, gulfs and subsequent bodies of water.
TaxonIn biology, a taxon is a group of one or more populations of an organism, or organisms, as seen by taxonomists to form a biological unit; (taxon: back-formation from taxonomy; pl.: taxa). Although neither is required, a taxon, once its description has become established, is usually known by a particular name and is given a particular ranking.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.