Locomotory patterns and external morphology of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal (Mammalia)
Terrestrial and aquatic locomotion of the river otter (Lutra canadensis), the sea otter (Enhydra lutris), and the harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) are successively described and analyzed in relation with the external characteristics of these species. Terrestrial locomotion, typical of land carni...
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Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
1972
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z72-124 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z72-124 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z72-124 2024-06-23T07:53:31+00:00 Locomotory patterns and external morphology of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal (Mammalia) Tarasoff, F. J. Bisaillon, André Piérard, Jean Whitt, Arville P. 1972 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z72-124 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z72-124 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 50, issue 7, page 915-929 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1972 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z72-124 2024-05-30T08:13:49Z Terrestrial and aquatic locomotion of the river otter (Lutra canadensis), the sea otter (Enhydra lutris), and the harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) are successively described and analyzed in relation with the external characteristics of these species. Terrestrial locomotion, typical of land carnivores in Lutra and Enhydra, is different and extremely awkward in Pagophilus. In the water, only Lutra has to actively maintain itself at the surface; the other two species have been observed at the surface for long periods with no movements. There is an increased tendency from Lutra to Enhydra to Pagophilus toward enlarged highly specialized feet, approximating a perfect lunate border. Tail surface area decreases in the above order. The length and density of foot hairs decrease if compared with midback and tarsal regions and also from Enhydra to Lutra to Pagophilus. Article in Journal/Newspaper Harp Seal Pagophilus groenlandicus Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 50 7 915 929 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
Terrestrial and aquatic locomotion of the river otter (Lutra canadensis), the sea otter (Enhydra lutris), and the harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) are successively described and analyzed in relation with the external characteristics of these species. Terrestrial locomotion, typical of land carnivores in Lutra and Enhydra, is different and extremely awkward in Pagophilus. In the water, only Lutra has to actively maintain itself at the surface; the other two species have been observed at the surface for long periods with no movements. There is an increased tendency from Lutra to Enhydra to Pagophilus toward enlarged highly specialized feet, approximating a perfect lunate border. Tail surface area decreases in the above order. The length and density of foot hairs decrease if compared with midback and tarsal regions and also from Enhydra to Lutra to Pagophilus. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Tarasoff, F. J. Bisaillon, André Piérard, Jean Whitt, Arville P. |
spellingShingle |
Tarasoff, F. J. Bisaillon, André Piérard, Jean Whitt, Arville P. Locomotory patterns and external morphology of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal (Mammalia) |
author_facet |
Tarasoff, F. J. Bisaillon, André Piérard, Jean Whitt, Arville P. |
author_sort |
Tarasoff, F. J. |
title |
Locomotory patterns and external morphology of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal (Mammalia) |
title_short |
Locomotory patterns and external morphology of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal (Mammalia) |
title_full |
Locomotory patterns and external morphology of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal (Mammalia) |
title_fullStr |
Locomotory patterns and external morphology of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal (Mammalia) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Locomotory patterns and external morphology of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal (Mammalia) |
title_sort |
locomotory patterns and external morphology of the river otter, sea otter, and harp seal (mammalia) |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1972 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z72-124 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z72-124 |
genre |
Harp Seal Pagophilus groenlandicus |
genre_facet |
Harp Seal Pagophilus groenlandicus |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 50, issue 7, page 915-929 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z72-124 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
50 |
container_issue |
7 |
container_start_page |
915 |
op_container_end_page |
929 |
_version_ |
1802645241412452352 |