ESCHRICHTIIDAE Meaning and
Definition
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Eschrichtiidae is a scientific term that refers to a family of marine mammals known as the gray whales. This family is part of the order Cetacea and includes a single extant species, Eschrichtius robustus.
Gray whales are characterized by their large size, measuring up to 15 meters (49 feet) in length and weighing around 36,000 kilograms (79,000 pounds). They have a distinctive gray coloration, with mottled patches caused by barnacles and whale lice that attach to their skin. These animals possess a hump behind their heads, which is more prominent in males, and lack a dorsal fin, making them easily identifiable.
Eschrichtiidae are primarily found in the coastal waters of the North Pacific Ocean, with separate populations in the Eastern North Pacific and Western North Pacific. They undertake one of the longest annual migrations of any mammal, traveling up to 20,000 kilometers (12,000 miles) between their feeding grounds in the Arctic and their breeding grounds in warmer waters, such as Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.
Gray whales are baleen whales, meaning they have baleen plates instead of teeth that they use to filter their food. They primarily feed on small invertebrates, such as amphipods and mysid shrimp, which they scoop up from the ocean floor using their specialized feeding behavior known as "bottom feeding." This unique feeding behavior often involves rolling to one side and combing the seafloor with their mouths.
Eschrichtiidae have faced various threats over the years, including commercial whaling, which greatly depleted their population. However, significant conservation efforts since the 20th century have led to their protection, and they are now considered a conservation success story.
Common Misspellings for ESCHRICHTIIDAE
- wschrichtiidae
- sschrichtiidae
- dschrichtiidae
- rschrichtiidae
- 4schrichtiidae
- 3schrichtiidae
- eachrichtiidae
- ezchrichtiidae
- exchrichtiidae
- edchrichtiidae
- eechrichtiidae
- ewchrichtiidae
- esxhrichtiidae
- esvhrichtiidae
- esfhrichtiidae
- esdhrichtiidae
- escgrichtiidae
- escbrichtiidae
- escnrichtiidae
Etymology of ESCHRICHTIIDAE
The word "Eschrichtiidae" comes from the combination of the genus name "Eschrichtius" and the suffix "-idae".
The genus name "Eschrichtius" honors the Danish zoologist Daniel Frederik Eschricht, who was known for his work in marine biology and cetology (the study of cetaceans). Eschricht conducted research on various marine mammals, including whales. As a tribute to his contributions to the field, the genus name was named after him.
The suffix "-idae" is commonly used in taxonomy to indicate a family level classification. It is derived from the Latin word "ida", which means "descendant" or "belonging to". In this context, "Eschrichtiidae" refers to a family of marine mammals, namely the gray whales.
Similar spelling words for ESCHRICHTIIDAE
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