Identification of marine animals can be challenging at the best of times. An understanding of how to correctly identify marine animals is critical, not only for response efforts but for the conservation of these species. Correct information from live sightings and reports of dead and distressed animals is invaluable to the conservation and management of these species, as well as to the wider scientific community.
GOALS OF THE COURSE
Main topics that will be covered in this course include:
- Maritime marine animals including cetaceans, pinnipeds, sea turtles and sharks
- The importance of species identification for response, science and conservation
- Learn how to correctly identify marine animals most commonly sighted and reported in Atlantic Canadian waters.
THIS COURSE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MARS VOLUNTEERS.
Interested in becoming a MARS volunteer?
Click the button below:
Already a MARS volunteer? Email our Volunteer Coordinator HERE to access this course.
Your Course Instructor:
Tonya Wimmer
Executive Director, Marine Animal Response Society
As Founder and Executive Director of MARS, and as a marine mammal biologist with over 20 years experience studying and working with a variety of cetacean species, Tonya is in a unique position to education others on the issues of marine animal response and conservation.
COURSE CURRICULUM
- Sperm Whale (2:06)
- Northern Bottlenose Whale (0:56)
- Other Beaked Whales - Cuvier's, Sowerby's and True's Beaked Whales (1:49)
- Long-Finned Pilot Whale (2:08)
- Beluga Whale (1:27)
- Less Common Toothed Whales - Orca and Pygmy Sperm Whale (1:30)
- Short Beaked Dolphins - Atlantic White-Sided and White-Beaked Dolphin (1:24)
- Long Beaked Dolphins - Common and Striped Dolphin (1:23)
- Less Common Dolphins - Bottlenose and Risso's Dolphins (1:16)
- Harbour Porpoise (0:41)
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CETACEANS
Cetaceans are a group of marine mammals that include whales, dolphins and porpoises. The group is divided into mysticetes (i.e. baleen whales and includes porpoises and dolphins) and odontocetes (i.e. toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises).
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PINNIPEDS
Pinnipeds are a group of marine mammals that include seals, sea lions, fur seals and walrus. Four species of seals, including grey, harbour, harp and hooded seals, are commonly observed on shorelines around the Maritime provinces.
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SEA TURTLES
Sea turtles are reptiles and, like cetaceans and pinnipeds, they are air-breathing. Of the seven species that occur in our oceans, two species, the leatherback and loggerhead turtle, are commonly reported or encountered.
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SHARKS
Sharks are cartilaginous fish – skeleton made of cartilage, not bone – that are characterized by slow growth, late maturity, long life and low fecundity (i.e. the ability to reproduce).