Order 9.

Cetacea (10 MKS)

1. Medium sized to very large aquatic mammals.

2. Body is usually spindle- shaped and fish- like.
3. The hairy covering of skin is reduced to few bristles on the muzzle.
Sub
4. Head long often pointed without neck.
5. Eyes are minute.
6. Nostrils on the top of the head and ear openings are minute.
7. Fore limbs are modified as paddles, digits are enclosed in common
Integument devoid of claws.
8. Hind limbs are entirely absent.
9. Tail is long ending in two broad transverse fleshy flukes notched in the
Mid-line.
10. Fleshy dorsal fin is present in some forms.
11. Dorsal and tail fins have no skeletal element.
12. A thick layer of fat (blubber) is present beneath the skin.
13. Bones of skull are spongy and contain fat.
14. Stomach is complex and consists of three or four chambers.
15. Testes are abdominal.
16. Placenta is non-deciduate and diffuse.
17. Examples: Whales, Dolphins.

The dermis layer of Mammalian skin (10 MKS)

The dermis consists of connective tissue and is vascularized.

Embedded within the dermis and, in some cases, extending into the hypodermis
Are a number of structures, some of which are epidermal in origin; for example,
Hair follicles, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands. Other dermal structures
Include blood vessels and sensory endings of nerves., The blood vessels provide
Nourishment for both the dermis and epidermis and remove waste. Nerve endings
Involve receptors for temperature and pressure, which send messages to the central nervous system about
objects
With which the skin comes into contact.
The innermost layer of the integument, the hypodermis, consists of fatty
Tissue. Fat storage cells serve as insulation, a cushion against external blows, and
Energy reserves. The base of each hair follicle is located in this layer, along with
The vascular tissues, parts of sweat glands, and portions of many of the dermal
Sensory receptors mentioned earlier.

Hair follicle (2 MKS)

A hair follicle begins its development in the stratum germanitivum layer of

The epidermis, and as it grows, it projects downward into and through the dermis
To form a root, or papilla, protruding into the subcutaneous fat layer.

Claws, Nails and Hooves (10 MKS)

Claws, hooves, and nails are keratinized structures derived from the stratum
Germanitivum layer of the epidermis. The basic, most primitive structure, the claw, occurs at the ends of
the digits and grows continuously. The claw consists of two parts: a lower or ventral subtinguis, which is
continuous with the pad at the end of the digit, and an upper or dorsal unguis, which is a scalelike plate
that surrounds the subunguis. Generalized claws found in many mammals are useful for climbing,
digging, aggressive intraspecific interactions, and defending against a variety of enemies. In some
mammals, such as felids, the sharp claws are retractable. In other groups, such as canids, the claws are
usually not as sharp and are nonretractable. Having retractable claws, particularly ones that are sharp,
may be advantageous in terms of peaceful interactions with conspecifics and young.