Why Are Marine Mammals So Big

The video explores why marine mammals are large, challenging the idea that buoyancy alone allows for their size. It discusses the evolutionary background of marine mammals and analyzes body size patterns, revealing that thermal regulation plays a significant role. While most marine mammals converge around 500 kg, outliers like baleen whales and sea otters show different size adaptations. The findings prompt a reevaluation of marine life understanding, highlighting the complexity of scientific inquiry.

What is one reason marine mammals can grow larger than land mammals?

• Buoyancy in water supports their weight.

• They live longer lives.

• They have more food available.

• They have fewer predators.

What did researchers find about the size of marine mammals?

• They grow large due to buoyancy.

• They grow large to avoid predators.

• They are large because of abundant food.

• They need to be large to stay warm.

Why can't marine mammals grow indefinitely larger?

• They would become easy targets for predators.

• They would overheat in the water.

• They would not be able to eat enough.

• They would become too heavy to move.

How do baleen whales manage to grow larger than other marine mammals?

• They use filter feeding to efficiently gather calories.

• They migrate to warmer waters.

• They have a unique diet of large fish.

• They have a slower metabolism.

What is a possible reason sea otters have not reached the size of other marine mammals?

• They have a different evolutionary path.

• They live in warmer waters.

• They are still evolving and may grow larger.

• They have a special diet that limits growth.