Marine mammals in Southern African Oceans

Marine mammals in the oceans and on the coasts around Southern Africa

Marine mammals generally evolved from land dwelling mammals to mammals that either depend on the ocean for food or live in the ocean.

Marine mammals that can be found around the South African coastline are:

1. Sea Otter

Sea otters are smaller than the otters that can be found on land. Although the sea otter is not found on the South African coastline the otters found in the Eastern Cape enter the ocean freely to feed.

2. Seals

Seals are divided into 3 main groups:

• Eared Seals - This group is represented in SA by the fur seal and the Sea Lions.
• True Seals - The Sea Elephant is a member of this group, but they cannot be found along the African Coast.
• Walruses - These can also only be found in Greenland and the Arctic.

3. Whales & Dolphins

The South African coast is a great destination for dolphin and whale watching. Not only are there some resident dolphins species, but the Southern Right Whale and the Humpback Whale can be seen on the SA coast as they migrate to and from warmer waters.

The Sperm Whale and Orcas are often seen along the west coast and Bottlenose Dolphins are quite a common sight.