Marine mammals

      A scientifically accurate definition of what we mean by a marine mammal would challenge both my level of expertise and your patience. On the one hand, there are those mammals that live exclusively in water--all the species of whales, porpoises and manatees. Then there are the semi-aquatic that feed in the sea but come ashore to mate, give birth, and rest or socialize--seals, sea lions, walruses. You could make a case that sea otters are marine mammals but river otters are not. Sea otters feed on shell fish, cracking them open on rocks balanced on their chests. Theoretically they can walk but they rarely do because they tend to move like dogs wearing over-sized footie pajamas. River otters, in contrast are quick and agile on land. Even better when doing belly floppers in snow. But the function of this blog is to share photos rather than highly nuanced scientific knowledge so I'm not going to quibble here. I do plenty of quibbling in other posts. 

   Even so, you might be interested in the difference between a seal and a sea lion. Sea lions have external ears, for one thing. Then, they can actually walk, though somewhat awkwardly, on their flippers. Seals are better adapted for a more solitary life in the water. They have smaller flippers that are of little use on land so they wriggle instead of walk and come ashore primarily for mating.

Manatees or sea cows are herbivorous mammals that feed in the shallows but they are not limited to the sea. In Florida, for example, they swim up fresh, spring-fed rivers where the stable water temperature is more agreeable in the winter. Ancient sailors who had been long at sea are said to have mistaken manatees for mermaids. Must have been at sea a long, long time.

Note the murkier water here. This is not a clear, spring-fed stream but the boat basin at Flamingo, FL very close to the open waters of the Gulf of Florida.

Accustomed to humans, they swim right up to the boat docks.

It is easy to see where a whale sounds or dives.

The trick is to guess when and where he will rise or breech.

Sometimes you just get lucky.

Sometimes really, really lucky!

 In contrast, off Maui in 1987, I sat in the bow with my camera in my lap so as not to miss the chance. Then when the whale spouted and breeched, I sat there with my jaw in my lap and missed just about everything worth capturing. No auto-focus on the old Canon either.

Sea lions seem to enjoy communal naps. Could be a way for mutual protection. If a predator approaches, somebody in the crowd is likely to sound the alarm. On the other hand, napping must be a challenge because there is a constant stream of loud barking at any colony.

This bull was evidently the loser in an encounter. Note deep gash on chest.

Esther Williams water ballet as performed by sea lions.