Aquatic Mammals
Here is a video of four aquatic mammals of New England. While watching this video, look for what the largest animal on earth is and write it down. |
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Habitat &
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Offspring
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Adaptations &
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Blue Whale
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Blue whales live in all of the world's oceans, but spend summers in the arctic and winters near the equator. They eat 4 tons of krill today!
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Female blue whales give birth to 1 baby at a time. These babies are called calves and weigh 3 tons!
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Blue whales have thick blubber to keep them warm in the rigid water temperature of the arctic. They also have a blow hole that allows them to inhale enough air to fill a truck since they can not breathe under the water.
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Harbor Seal
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Harbor seals can be found on sandy and rocky beaches and in oceans by the coast that are quite cold. Seals enjoy eating a variety of fish and squid.
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A female harbor seal gives birth to one single baby at a time. These babies are called pups. Pups weigh about 30 pounds when they are born! .
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Seals are hunted by many larger predators in the ocean, such as orcas, sharks, and polar bears. The coast provides seals with some protection.
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Beaver
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The beaver builds its home along ponds, rivers, and lakes in forests around North America. Their homes are dome-like, and are made of mud and branches. Dams are also built to control the water flow in rivers. Beavers eat leaves, twigs, roots, and plants within the water.
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Female beavers have one litter of 1 to 6 babies a year. Their offspring are called kits. When they are 2 years old, they will wander off to find mates.
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Beavers have large, flat tails that they use to mat down the branches and mud used to build their dams.
Beavers have also been affected by water pollution created by humans, but people are working to help keep the beavers' homes clean. |
River Otter
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River otters live in burrows near the edges of rivers, lakes, swamp and swaps in forested areas across North America. They eat fish, amphibians, and turtles.
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Females otters give birth to 1 to 6 babies in an underground den. When the young are about 2 months old, they are introduced to the water. All river otters are natural swimmers.
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River otters are also endangered by environmental pollution and they are slowly losing their homes.
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Muskrat
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Muskrats live along bodies of water in dens and lodges throughout North America, especially in New England. Muskrats eat insects, slow-moving fish, and vegetation in the water, such as weeds and water lilies.
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Female muskrats have about 3 litters a year with 6 to 7 babies in each litter. Babies are born during the spring and summer months and do not leave their mothers for the first 30 days. The young are born blind and naked.
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Muskrats can spend up to 15 minutes under the water and are very aggressive and territorial.
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