Marine mammal the attempt at such") of any marine mammal without a permit issued by the Secretary. Authority to manage the MMPA was divided between the Secretary of the Interior through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), and the Secretary of Commerce, which is delegated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Marine Mammal Commission (MMC) was established to review existing policies and make recommendations to the Service and NOAA to better implement the MMPA. The Service is responsible for ensuring the protection of sea otters and marine otters, walruses, polar bears, the three species of manatees, and dugongs;
Mammal years ago. This tiny primate weighed 20–30 grams (0.7–1.1 ounce) and could fit within a human palm. Living mammal species can be identified by the presence of [[sweat gland]]s, including [[Mammary gland|those that are specialized to produce milk]] to nourish their young. In classifying fossils, however, other features must be used, since soft tissue glands and many other features are not visible in fossils. Many traits shared by all living mammals appeared among the earliest members of the group: For the most part, these characteristics were not present in the Triassic ancestors of the mammals. Nearly all mammaliaforms possess an