Mammals

Question 1

Which of the following statements about elephant seals are CORRECT?

Answer 1

Adult males have a large inflatable nose, adult males are larger than adult females

Question 2

Which of the following statements about southern elephant seal ecology is INCORRECT?

Answer 2

Southern elephant seals breed on the Antarctic continent

Question 3

The first whale species to be commercially depleted in the waters around South Georgia after the establishment of the local land-based industry was the:

Answer 3

Humpback whale

Question 4

What is the main purpose of the sebaceous glands found in Antarctic fur seal skin?

Answer 4

They produce oil to waterproof the fur

Question 5

All whales are mammals. However, unlike most mammals whales have no:

Answer 5

Hind limbs, external ears, external male sex organs

Question 6

The Type B killer whales undertake long, rapid, return journeys from Antarctic to sub-tropical waters. What is the most likely reason for this behaviour?

Answer 6

To regenerate their skin as it does not slough off in the cold Antarctic waters

Question 7

There are three taxonomic families of seals. The Otariidae are the:

Answer 7

Eared seals

Question 8

Southern humpback whales:

Answer 8

Mate in the subtropics, migrate to the Antarctic and then return to the subtropics to give birth

Question 9

Female Oceania humpback whales accompanied by a calf predominately migrate to which Antarctic feeding area?

Answer 9

Ross Sea

Question 10

Why are crab eater seals more vulnerable than other seals to predation by killer whales and leopard seals?

Answer 10

They live mostly alone on the outer fringes of pack ice

Question 11

Type A killer whales mainly feed on minke whales. Where in Antarctic waters are you MOST likely to find Type A killer whales?

Answer 11

The open ocean

Question 12

The southern elephant seal diet consists mostly of:

Answer 12

Cephalopods (squid and octopus)

Question 13

The order Cetacea is divided into two suborders: the Mysticeti and the Odontoceti. The Odontoceti are characterised by:

Answer 13

Teeth and a single blow hole

Question 14

Humpback whales migrating to Oceania breeding grounds feed:

Answer 14

Between Ross Sea and the Bellingshausen Sea

Question 15

How do leopard seals find mates during the breeding season?

Answer 15

They produce low frequency sounds that travel long distances underwater

Question 16

Unlike Mysticetes (baleen whales), Odontocetes (toothed whales) are able to:

Answer 16

Echolocate

Question 17

Leopard seals are best known for being top predators but what prey-type do they consume the most, especially in winter?

Answer 17

Krill

Question 18

There are two families of pinnipeds in Antarctica. The phocids also known as the true seals, are insulated with blubber. In contrast, the otariids, or eared seals, have fur as their main source of insulation.

Question 19

What species of Antarctic pinniped has the most varied diet?

Answer 19

Leopard seal

Question 20

Weddell seal pups grow fast but this comes at a cost to their mothers. What is the consequence to the females of feeding their pups milk high in iron?

Answer 20

The females lose weight, mainly from their blubber as they are transferring fats to their pup via their milk.

Question 21

Which of the following statements BEST describes southern elephant seals?

Answer 21

Males are considerably larger than females and maintain harems during the breeding season. There are variable rates of recovery for the different populations most likely related to oceanographic conditions.

Question 22

Which of the following statements BEST describes Weddell seals?

Answer 22

They are the southern most mammal, maintaining breathing holes through the ice so they can access the ocean. They have the longest period of weaning during which time the mother loses weight as she is feeding her pup fat-rich milk.

Question 23

The baleen whales typically feed on zooplankton during the productive summer months. In contrast, toothed whales feed year round using echolocation to help find their prey.

Question 24

There are different types of killer whales in Antarctic waters. Type A is the largest and is typically found in open ocean. Type B mainly feed on seals, unlike Type C that feed on fish in nearshore waters.

Question 25

Which species of whale has recovered to approximately 10% of its pre-exploitation numbers?

Answer 25

Southern right whale

Question 26

Which statement BEST describes small B type killer whales?

Answer 26

They primarily live around the Antarctic Peninsula feeding on penguins and fish

Question 27

Which statement BEST describes why Antarctic whale populations have been slower to recover from whaling compared to seal populations recovery from seal hunting?

Answer 27

Whales have greater nutritional demands than seals