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Mammals

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PHOTO Common Dolphin and Calf Toothed whales, like this common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and its calf, live in social groups called pods. The mother and calf form a pair that shares a long-term bond. Read more about to...MORE PHOTOS


	PHOTO MORE PHOTOS Hawaiian Monk Seal The endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is one of hundreds of...
	PHOTO MORE PHOTOS Florida Manatee in a Fresh Water Spring Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) swimming within a fresh water s...
	PHOTO MORE PHOTOS Humpback Whale Breaching Breaching is a behavior seen in some baleen whales, where they launch their enti...

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					West Indian Manatee Portrait May 17, 2013 - 9:24AMWest Indian Manatees, Trichechus manatus, are found in warm, shallow coastal ecosystems along the southeastern North America and northeastern South America. They graze plants in mangrove ecosystems and seagrass beds, occasionally...

Humpback Whale in Antarctic Waters

Apr 4, 2013 - 9:22AM

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaengliae) can be found in Antarctic waters...

Harp Seal, Prince Edward Island National Park, Canada

Apr 3, 2013 - 9:04AM

Harp seals are protected in the United States by the Marine Mammal...

SPOTLIGHT


Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP) The TOPP program brought together scientists from seven countries to explore the lives of large mid-water animals such as...

North Pacific Right Whale Jan 26 2010 - 11:46am A North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) swims in the Bering Sea.	North Atlantic Right Whale Breaching Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world's largest animals, but scientists estimate that fewer than 450 remain. Find out why so few remain and take a look at the largest whale.
Polar Bears, Cape Churchill, Manitoba, Canada Dec 23 2010 - 2:01pm “In late November, land-locked polar bears gather along the Hudson Bay to await the formation of Arctic ice so they can return to their seal-hunting grounds for the winter.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Alan Zipp. See more beautiful ocean photos in our slideshow of winners from the 2010 Nature's...	Phoenix and Her Calf Sighted in February 2012 Apr 24 2012 - 11:28am Phoenix, the North Atlantic right whale whose replica hangs from the ceiling of the Sant Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History, was sighted with a calf off of Amelia Island in Florida on February 22, 2012.
Phoenix in Bay of Fundy Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am Phoenix was photographed swimming off the coast of Canada in the Bay of Fundy in August 2007. More about the right whale can be found in our Tale of a Whale featured story.	Forecast for Polar Bear Populations Mar 23 2010 - 2:43pm Scientists document a direct relationship between the extent of sea ice and polar bear survival. Future projected reductions in the extent of annual sea-ice due to global warming may result in the loss of nearly 40% of the Arctic ecosystem’s carrying capacity for polar bears. By mid-century polar...
Acrobatic Blue Whales Do the Twist While Feeding Jan 8 2013 - 12:06pm I have a vivid childhood memory of sitting under the Blue Whale model hanging in the Natural History Museum in London, eating an ice cream and wondering “How in the world did that whale get so big?” These days we are closer to knowing the answer. Over the past several years, a group of researchers...	Whale on Camera Mar 21 2011 - 4:41pm A still from Where the Whales Sing, part of the 19th Annual Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital.
Sperm Whale, Dominica Jun 21 2011 - 12:28pm “For the past few years I have visited the island of Dominica to enjoy its beauty both above and below the surface. This photo was taken during a lucky encounter with a member of the ‘group of 7’ pod. A very young calf measuring about 25 feet long came over and played with us for well over 45...	Lip Scar Caused By Fishing Gear Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am A white scar on Phoenix’s lip (at right) was caused by her entanglement with a fishing line. Learn more about the life of Phoenix, an actual North Atlantic right whale, in the Tale of a whale photo essay.
Sea Lion Sickness Jan 14 2011 - 11:36am Both humans and sea lions get sick from eating fish and shellfish that have been feeding on harmful toxic algae. Studying the sick sea lions brings scientists closer to understanding and preventing harmful and potentially lethal diseases in humans. Explore other videos that capture the beauty and...	Humpback Whale Breaching Aug 2 2012 - 10:51am Breaching is a behavior seen in some baleen whales, where they launch their entire body out of the water headfirst and land with a large splash.
Baleen in Action Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am The fringed baleen plates are easy to observe as this North Atlantic right whale skims the water’s surface while it feeds. Many baleen whales suck in as much water was possible, and then push it out through their baleen to sieve out any krill. Right whales, however, skim the water's surface. More...	Listening for Bowhead Whales Jan 4 2011 - 5:17pm Hoping to hear bowhead whales, NOAA marine mammal scientist Sue Moore listens to real-time sounds from an underwater hydrophone.
Polar Bears: One Species at a Time Jun 28 2011 - 2:25pm The Encyclopedia of Life and Atlantic Public Media bring us another installment of the podcast, One Species at a Time. In this podcast, host Ari Daniel Shapiro relates two close calls with polar bears. Listen as Heather Cray recalls how, dumped by a storm on a small Arctic island,...	Dispatches from the Field: Treacherous stream crossings and a new fossil find May 11 2012 - 9:58am Editor's note: Read Nick's first blog post about "toothed" baleen whales to see what their team is excavating on Vancouver Island.