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Consider the following animals:
  1. Sea horse
  2. Sea cow
  3. Jellyfish
  4. Sea lion
Which of the above are marine mammals?
  • a)
    1 and 2 only
  • b)
    2 and 3 only
  • c)
    1 and 4 only
  • d)
    2 and 4 only 
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Consider the following animals: Sea horse Sea cow Jellyfish Sea lionWh...
  • Mammals are vertebrate animals that are endothermic, have hair on their bodies, and produce milk to feed their babies. Many mammals give birth to live young that are small. Regulating their own body temperature and having hair of various thicknesses for protection has also allowed mammals to live in almost every habitat on Earth. 
  • Marine mammals are found in marine ecosystems around the globe. They are a diverse group of mammals with unique physical adaptations that allow them to thrive in the marine environment with extreme temperatures, depths, pressure, and darkness. 
  • Marine mammals are classified into four different taxonomic groups: cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), sirenians (manatees and dugongs), and marine fissipeds (polar bears and sea otters). 
    • Sea cow, (Hydrodamalis gigas), also called Steller’s sea cow is a very large aquatic mammal. Steller’s sea cow belonged to the same family as the dugong. The extremely large size of Steller’s sea cow functioned as an adaptation for survival in cool waters by providing the animal with a smaller ratio of surface area to volume. Hence option 2 is correct. 
    • Seals and sea lions are marine mammals called 'pinnipeds' that differ in physical characteristics and adaptations. They all have flippers at the end of their limbs to help them swim. Like all marine mammals, they have a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm in the chilly ocean. They are found primarily in Pacific waters. Hence option 4 is correct. 
  • Sea horse or Hippocampus is an example of marine bony fish. They are marine fish belonging to the genus Hippocampus of the family Syngnathidae. They are found in temperate and tropical waters all over the world. Seahorses range in size from 16 mm to 35 cm. They are notable for being the only species where the males get pregnant. Hence option 1 is not correct. 
  • Jellyfish are one of the oldest animals on Earth. They appeared before dinosaurs, between 500 and 700 million years ago. Jellyfish are found in every ocean, and even in some freshwater ponds and lakes. Most jellyfish prefer warm water, but some inhabit subarctic areas. Despite their name, jellyfish are not fish. They are a type of zooplankton that both drift in the ocean and have some swimming ability. Jellyfish are invertebrates; animals without skeletons. About 95% of their bodies are water. Jellyfish not only do not have bones, they have no brains, heads or hearts. Hence option 3 is not correct. 
  • Hence, option (d) is correct answer.
Free Test
Community Answer
Consider the following animals: Sea horse Sea cow Jellyfish Sea lionWh...
The correct answer is option 'D' - 2 and 4 only.

Sea lions and sea cows are the marine mammals among the given animals. Let's understand why.

Sea Horse:
- Sea horses belong to the family Syngnathidae and are a type of fish.
- They have a unique appearance with a horse-like head and a curled tail.
- Sea horses are found in marine environments, usually in shallow tropical and temperate waters.
- They are not considered marine mammals as they do not possess the characteristics of mammals such as giving live birth or having mammary glands to nurse their young.

Jellyfish:
- Jellyfish belong to the phylum Cnidaria and are classified as invertebrates.
- They are found in marine environments and are known for their gelatinous, umbrella-shaped bodies.
- Like sea horses, jellyfish are not considered marine mammals as they lack the defining characteristics of mammals.

Sea Cow (Manatees):
- Sea cows, also known as manatees, belong to the order Sirenia and are true marine mammals.
- They are large, herbivorous aquatic animals found in coastal waters, rivers, and estuaries.
- Manatees have a round, barrel-shaped body and a paddle-like tail for swimming.
- They are warm-blooded, have lungs, and breathe air at the water's surface.
- Manatees give live birth and nurse their young with milk produced by mammary glands.
- They are considered marine mammals due to their adaptations to a fully aquatic lifestyle.

Sea Lion:
- Sea lions are marine mammals belonging to the family Otariidae.
- They are pinnipeds, which are semiaquatic mammals, also including seals and walruses.
- Sea lions are found in coastal areas and are known for their ability to walk on land using their flippers.
- They have external ear flaps and are highly adapted for swimming.
- Similar to manatees, sea lions give live birth and nurse their young with milk.
- They possess all the characteristics that define a marine mammal.

In conclusion, among the given animals, sea lions (option 4) and sea cows (option 2) are the marine mammals.
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Consider the following animals: Sea horse Sea cow Jellyfish Sea lionWhich of the above are marine mammals?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 and 3 onlyc)1 and 4 onlyd)2 and 4 onlyCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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