List of mammals of Heard Island and McDonald Islands facts for kids
Heard Island and McDonald Islands are small, uninhabited islands in the southern Indian Ocean. They are a long way from other land. These islands are home to many amazing mammal species, especially whales, dolphins, and seals. About 29 different kinds of mammals have been seen around these islands.
It's important to know if animals are safe or if they need our help. Scientists use special tags to show how much risk a species faces. Here's what those tags mean:
| EX | Extinct | Sadly, this animal is gone forever. The last one has died. |
| EW | Extinct in the wild | This animal only lives in zoos or special protected areas, not in nature. |
| CR | Critically endangered | This animal is in extreme danger of disappearing from the wild very soon. |
| EN | Endangered | This animal faces a very high risk of disappearing from the wild. |
| VU | Vulnerable | This animal is at high risk of disappearing from the wild. |
| NT | Near threatened | This animal is not in immediate danger, but it might be in the future. |
| LC | Least concern | This animal is doing well and is not currently at risk. |
| DD | Data deficient | We don't have enough information to know how safe this animal is. |
Whales and Dolphins (Cetacea)
The group called Cetacea includes all whales, dolphins, and porpoises. These mammals are perfectly built for life in the water. They have smooth, nearly hairless bodies shaped like a torpedo. A thick layer of blubber helps keep them warm. Their front fins and tail are shaped to help them move fast underwater.
Toothed Whales (Odontoceti)
Toothed whales have teeth and usually hunt fish, squid, or other marine animals. This group includes dolphins and sperm whales.
Marine Dolphins (Delphinidae)
- Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas LC
- Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus
- Hourglass dolphin, Lagenorhynchus cruciger
- Dusky dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obscurus
- Southern right whale dolphin, Lissodelphis peronii
- Orca (also known as Killer Whale), Orcinus orca DD
- Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
Porpoises (Phocoenidae)
- Spectacled porpoise, Phocoena dioptrica LC
Sperm Whales (Physeteridae)
- Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus
Beaked Whales (Ziphiidae)
- Arnoux's beaked whale, Berardius arnuxii LC
- Southern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon planifrons
- Gray's beaked whale, Mesoplodon grayi LC
- Hector's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hectori
- Layard's beaked whale (or Strap-toothed whale), Mesoplodon layardii LC
- Cuvier's beaked whale (or Goose-beaked whale), Ziphius cavirostris
Baleen Whales (Mysticeti)
Baleen whales do not have teeth. Instead, they have baleen plates in their mouths. They use these plates to filter tiny organisms like krill from the water for food.
Rorquals (Balaenopteridae)
- Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata
- Antarctic minke whale, Balaenoptera bonarensis
- Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis VU
- Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus EN
- Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus VU
- Humpback whale, Megaptera noveangliae LC
Right Whales (Balaenidae)
- Southern right whale, Eubalaena australis EN
Seals (Carnivora)
The group called Carnivora includes over 260 species. Most of them eat meat, but some, like the Crabeater seal, eat tiny ocean creatures. They all have a special skull shape and teeth for their diet.
Eared Seals (Otariidae)
Eared seals, like fur seals, have small external ears and can rotate their hind flippers forward to walk on land.
- Antarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus gazella LC
- Subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis EN
Earless Seals (Phocidae)
Earless seals, also called true seals, do not have external ears. They move on land by wiggling their bodies.
- Leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx LC
- Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii LC
- Crabeater seal, Lobodon carcinophagus LC
- Southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina LC
- Ross seal, Ommatophoca rossii LC
See also
- Antarctic realm
- Fauna of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Lists of mammals by region
