>Now down to the serious stuff - so these sea mammals have hidden breasts,
what does this do to the brassiere industry?? Why do ours stick out, was
this a conspiracy of a Neanderthal Maidenform or Playtex? These dolphins and
whales have the right idea.

All primates have protuberant nipples, and nursing apes (gorillas,
chimpanzees, orangutans) have protuberant breasts, like humans.  Humans have
more protuberant breasts than most other primates, even when not nursing,
but they don't stick out all that much if you have low body fat and don't
wear a bra (most of the world's women).  The most likely explanation is that
baby humans have very *flat* faces, compared to most other animals
(especially dolphins) who have long snouts and breathing holes on top of
their heads.  If a baby human had to dive into a ventral pocket to find the
nipple, they wouldn't be able to breathe.  The reduced snout of the human
face probably accounts for the necessity of having a nipple that is
manuverable and away from the mother's body so the baby doesn't suffocate
while nursing.

Don't manatees have protuberant breasts, in their armpits (like elephants)?
I think this is where they are located.  Of course, manatees live in warm
water, not cold....
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Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.                         email: [log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352