Mammal Group

Aquatic Mammal Facts for Kids

Aquatic mammals live in the water but still breathe air. Meet whales, dolphins, manatees, dugongs, and otters, the swimmers of the mammal world!

Quick Aquatic Mammal Facts

Where they live: Oceans, rivers, and lakes
How they breathe: Air, using lungs, just like us
Body design: Flippers and a smooth, streamlined body
Warm-blooded?: Yes, with a layer of fat called blubber
Babies: Born live and fed mother's milk
Biggest member: The blue whale

Aquatic mammals are animals that spend most or all of their lives in water! Even though they live in oceans, rivers, and lakes, they are still mammals. This means they breathe air with lungs, have warm blood, and feed their babies milk. God designed these amazing creatures with special features like flippers, streamlined bodies, and the ability to hold their breath for a long time!

From massive whales that can weigh as much as 30 elephants to playful dolphins that leap through waves, aquatic mammals are some of the most fascinating animals on Earth! Some like whales and dolphins spend their entire lives in water and never come on land. Others like otters and seals can move on both land and water. Let us dive in and discover these incredible swimming mammals!

Meet the Aquatic Mammals

Tap an animal to learn more about these amazing swimmers.

Whales Dolphins Manatees Dugongs Otters

Cool Facts About Aquatic Mammals!

They breathe air, not water! Aquatic mammals must come to the surface to breathe through lungs, because they cannot get oxygen from water like fish do.
A blue whale's heart is huge! It is about the size of a small car, and the whole whale can be longer than three school buses.
Dolphins talk with clicks and whistles! They use sound to find food and to chat with each other underwater.
Otters hold hands while they sleep! Sea otters link paws so they do not drift apart while floating on the water.
Blubber keeps them warm! A thick layer of fat under the skin keeps aquatic mammals cozy in cold water.

Aquatic Mammal Questions Kids Ask

What is an aquatic mammal?

An aquatic mammal is a warm-blooded animal that lives in the water but still breathes air, such as a whale, dolphin, or manatee.

How do aquatic mammals breathe underwater?

They do not breathe underwater. They hold their breath and come up to the surface to breathe air through their lungs.

Are whales and dolphins fish?

No. Even though they live in water, they are mammals. They breathe air, are warm-blooded, and feed their babies milk.

How do they stay warm in cold water?

They have a thick layer of fat called blubber under the skin that keeps the cold out.