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- Seals are a group of marine mammals classified under the order Carnivora. There are various seal species, with approximately 32 recognized types, divided into two main families: Phocidae (true seals) and Otariidae (eared seals, including sea lions and fur seals). These animals are believed to have evolved from terrestrial carnivorous ancestors.
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They primarily derive fluids from the food they consume, e.g. 90% of fresh water taken in by common seals is from the fish they eat; most of the remaining 10% is metabolic water and inspired water vapour.
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Seals are pinnipeds, a group of animals with three separate families—phocidae (eared seals), otaridae (non-eared seals), and odobenidae (walruses)—that are the only mammals that feed in the water and breed on land.
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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. There are two types of seals: the earless, or true, seals (family Phocidae); and the eared seals (family Otariidae), which comprise the sea lions and fur seals. In addition to the presence of external ears, eared seals have longer flippers than do earless seals. Also, the fur of eared seals is more apparent, especially in sea lions.
Seals are carnivores, eating mainly fish, though some also consume squid, other mollusks, and crustaceans. Unlike other seals, the leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) of the Antarctic feeds largely on penguins, seabirds, and other seals, in addition to fish and krill. The main predators of seals are killer whales, polar bears, leopard seals, large sharks, and human beings.
The Baikal seal (Phoca sibirica) of Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia, is the smallest at 1.1–1.4 metres (3.6–4.6 feet) long and 50–130 kg (110–290 pounds), but some female fur seals weigh less. The largest is the male elephant seal (genus Mirounga leonina) of coastal California (including Baja California, Mexico) and South America, which can reach a length of 6.5 metres (21 feet) and a weight of 3,700 kg (8,150 pounds). The upper portions of seals’ limbs are within the body, but the long feet and digits remain, having evolved into flippers. Seals possess a thick layer of fat (blubber) below the skin, which provides insulation, acts as a food reserve, and contributes to buoyancy.
True seals of the genus Phoca are the most abundant in the Northern Hemisphere. They are fairly small, with little difference in size between the sexes. Ringed seals (P. hispida) have blotches over their entire bodies, harp seals (P. groenlandica) have a large blotch of black on otherwise mostly silver-gray fur, harbour seals (P. vitulina) have a marbled coat, and ribbon seals (P. fasciata) have dark fur with ribbons of paler fur around the neck, front limbs, and posterior part of their body.
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Animal Factoids
Though especially abundant in polar seas, seals are found throughout the world, with some species favouring the open ocean and others inhabiting coastal waters or spending time on islands, shores, or ice floes. The coastal species are generally sedentary, but the oceangoing species make extended, regular migrations. All are excellent swimmers and divers—especially the Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) of the Antarctic. Various species are able to reach depths of 150–250 metres or more and can remain underwater for 20–30 minutes, with the Weddell seal diving for up to 73 minutes and up to 600 metres. Seals cannot swim as fast as dolphins or whales but are more agile in the water. When swimming, a true seal uses its forelimbs to maneuver in the water, propelling its body forward with side-to-side strokes of its hind limbs. Because the hind flippers cannot be moved forward, these seals propel themselves on land by wriggling on their bellies or pulling themselves forward with their front limbs. Eared seals, on the other hand, rely mainly on a rowing motion of their front flippers for propulsion. Because they are able to turn their hind flippers forward, they can use all four limbs when moving on land.
All seals must come ashore once a year to breed. Nearly all are gregarious, at least when breeding, with some assembling in enormous herds on beaches or floating ice. Most form pairs during the breeding season, but in some species, such as fur seals, the gray seal (Halichoerus grypus), and elephant seals, males (bulls) take possession of harems of cows and drive rival bulls away from their territory. Gestation periods average about 11 months, including a delayed implantation of the fertilized egg in many species. Cows are again impregnated soon after giving birth. Pups are born on the open ice or in a snow lair on the ice. The mother remains out of the water and does not feed while nursing the pups. The young gain weight rapidly, for the cow’s milk is up to about 50 percent fat.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Sep 29, 2022 · Seals, also called pinnipeds, aren’t just mammals but belong to a special group called marine mammals. These mammals live most of their lives in or near water, especially the ocean. Pinnipeds spend most of their time in the water, hunting for something to eat, but they have to come out on land to give birth, mate, and molt their fur.
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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...
Nov 22, 2019 · Seals are the primary source of food for land and aquatic animals such as sharks, whales, polar bears, Arctic wolves and humans. Although seal animals do not possess any significant defenses against these predators, they have adapted behaviors like agility and large groups to protect themselves.
Seal Diet: What Do These Animals Eat? Seals are carnivores, meaning they eat other animals. Their diet primarily consists of fish, squid, and other marine creatures like crustaceans. Seals use their excellent vision and sense of touch to hunt for prey, often diving deep into the ocean to catch fish.
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Sharks, orcas, and polar bears prey upon seals as a main source of food. One polar bear must eat up to 19 baby ring seals every 10 to 12 days to maintain its body weight. In the Pacific Northwest, some orcas feed exclusively on fish while others predominantly eat seals and sea lions.
