Studying mammals: Return to the water

Some of the most unusual and versatile of all the mammals are the groups that live, feed and reproduce underwater. In this free course, Studying mammals: Return to the water, we will see how these formerly land-based mammals adapted to a return to the water, discussing such challenges as breathing, movement and communication. This is the seventh course in the Studying mammals series.NOTE: The Studying mammals series is gradually being updated and replaced. You can study an improved freestanding version of this course, titled Aquatic mammals, here:https://www.open.edu/openlearn/nature-environment/aquatic-mammals/content-section-0

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 The pinnipeds, sirenians and cetaceans
• 1 The pinnipeds, sirenians and cetaceans
• 2 Living in the water
• 2 Living in the water
• 2.1 Land versus water
• 2.2 Breathing air
• 2.3 Moving about
• 2.4 Staying warm …
• 2.5 … and getting larger
• 2.6 Senses and communication …
• 2.7 … and becoming more intelligent
• 3 The 'diving response'
• 3 The 'diving response'
• 3.1 Features of the diving response
• 3.2 Natural dives
• 4 The evolution of whales
• 4 The evolution of whales
• 4.1 The rate of evolution
• 4.2 Intermediate forms
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgements