Marine habitat plates -- Evolution of sea mammals -- Marine mammal ecology -- Ocean ecosystems -- California current system -- Climate oscillations -- Ocean communities and ecoregions -- Marine mammals and humans -- Taxonomy -- Cetaceans: North Pacific Right whale -- Blue whale -- Fin whale -- Sei whale -- Bryde's whale -- Common Minke whale -- Humpback whale -- Gray whale -- Sperm whale -- Pygmy Sperm whale -- Dwarf Sperm whale -- Baird's beaked whale -- Cuvier's Beaked whale -- Blainville's Beaked whale -- Perrin's Beaked whale -- Hubbs' Beaked whale -- Pygmy Beaked whale -- Stejneger's Beaked whale -- Killer whale -- Short-finned Pilot whale -- False Killer whale -- Rough-toothed dolphin -- Pacific White-sided dolphin -- Risso's dolphin -- Common Bottlenose dolphin -- Pantropical Spotted dolphin -- Spinner dolphin -- Short-beaked Common dolphin -- Long-beaked Common dolphin -- Fraser's dolphin -- Northern Right Whale dolphin -- Dall's porpoise -- Harbor porpoise -- Carnivores: Stellar sea lion -- California sea lion -- Northern Fur seal -- Guadalupe Fur seal -- Harbor seal -- Northern Elephant seal -- Sea otter -- River otter.;From gray whales giving birth in the lagoons of Baja California to sea otters nestled in kelp beds off California to killer whales living around Vancouver Island - this spectacular stretch of the Pacific Coast boasts one of the most abundant populations of sea mammals on earth. This handy interpretive field guide describes the 45 whales, dolphins, seals, and otters that are resident in, migrate through, or forage from Baja in Mexico to British Columbia in Canada. The guide's rich species accounts provide details on identification, natural history, distribution, and conservation. They also tell where and how these fascinating animals can best be viewed. Introductory chapters give general information on the ecology, evolution, and taxonomy of marine mammals; on the Pacific Coast's unique environment; and on the relationship between marine mammals and humans from native cultures to today. Featuring many color illustrations, photographs, drawings, and maps, this up-to-date guide illuminates a fascinating group of animals and reveals much about their mysterious lives in the ocean. --Publisher's description.
