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Sep 26, 2024 · seal, any of 32 species of web-footed aquatic mammals that live chiefly in cold seas and whose body shape, round at the middle and tapered at the ends, is adapted to swift and graceful swimming.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Sep 29, 2022 · The closest living relatives to seals are bears, and seals separated from them about 60 million years ago. A large grey harp seal lays on an ice pan with its face and body covered in snow. Seals, also called pinnipeds, aren’t just mammals but belong to a special group called marine mammals.
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- Seals have been hunted since antiquity. They were and in some cases still are hunted for their fur which is especially true of their pups. They’re...
- According to the IUCN, there are 36 species of pinnipeds. Some of these species have subspecies.
- Seals are found mostly in the polar regions, though there are a few, such as monk seals, that are found in warmer waters such as the Mediterranean....
- Pinnipeds are carnivores, as they eat only animals such as krill, squid, fish, penguins, and smaller seals, including the pups of other species.
- They are not really dangerous to humans, but some are more aggressive than others, especially during the breeding season or if they are hungry. At...
- Some species of pinniped do migrate. Indeed, the northern elephant seal’s migration is the longest of any mammal. Males swim 13,000 miles, and fema...
- Pinnipeds need to molt from time to time because their fur doesn’t keep them warm but just protects them from injury and getting burnt by the sun’s...
- The lifespan of a seal depends a lot on the species, but as mammals, seals can live a long time. The gray seal can live for over 30 years, the Gala...
- Bearded Seal.
- California Sea Lion.
- Gray Seal.
- Guadalupe Fur Seal.
Flippered and charismatic, pinnipeds (which includes seals, sea lions, and walruses) are true personalities of the sea. Like whales, manatees, and sea otters, they are marine mammals, meaning millions of years ago their ancestors evolved from a life on land to a life at sea. Today, they remain creatures of both land and sea.
- Size and Weight: True seals range in size from the 3 feet and 100 pounds Baikal seal to the 16 feet and 7,100 pounds southern elephant seal male. The southern elephant seal male is not only the largest seal species but is also the largest member of the order Carnivora.
- Appearance: Seal appearance varies among the species. However, all species have feet-shaped fins, allowing for these species to be expert swimmers. Most species have thick layers of fat, also known as blubber, to keep the animals warm in cold oceans, in addition to dense fur.
- Diet: Seals are opportunistic carnivores, eating mainly fish while in the water.
- Habitat: All pinniped species are considered semi-aquatic marine mammals that spend some of their time at sea and the other part of their lives on land or sea ice.
Mar 22, 2021 · Seals and sea lions belong to a group of marine mammals called pinnipeds, which means fin or flipper-footed. They are adapted for life in the ocean, but come on land for long periods of time. NOAA Fisheries and partners work to study, protect, and conserve these unique marine mammals and their habitats.
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Aug 12, 2024 · Seals and sea lions, along with walruses, belong to a group of marine mammals called “pinnipeds.” Pinniped means fin or flipper-footed in Latin. These animals spend the majority of their time in the ocean but come on shore for long periods of time.
