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There are 18 species of earless seals, including the harbor, leopard, and elephant seals. Earless seals can hold their breath for up to 90 minutes, allowing them to dive to great depths in search of food. Some earless seals can stay underwater for several hours at a time, using their slow metabolism and ability to conserve oxygen to survive.
The earless seals, phocids, or true seals are one of the three main groups of mammals within the seal lineage, Pinnipedia. All true seals are members of the family Phocidae (/ ˈ f oʊ s ɪ d iː /). They are sometimes called crawling seals to distinguish them from the fur seals and sea lions of the family Otariidae.
- Some seals are earless. Yes, you heard that right… Capetonians will be forgiven for thinking that all seals have ears like our locals do, but that's not the case at all!
- Cape fur seals are their own subspecies. Our local seals are just one subspecies of the larger "brown fur seal" species. Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) are the larger of the two and are found on the coasts of South Africa, Namibia and Angola.
- Seals can sleep in the water. On land, Cape fur seals sleep like anyone else – they snooze, snore, and occasionally, grumpily open an eye to check for nearby predators.
- Seal pups are strictly landlubbers for their first few months. For the first six months or so, Cape fur seal pups will be fed with their mother’s milk, spending this entire period on land.
Seals have small flippers, wriggle on their bellies on land, and lack visible ear . Phocidae — True Seals. True seals— earless seals, phocids — make the family Phocidae, one of the three main groups of mammals within the seal lineage, Pinnipedia. True seals are different from fur seals and sea lions which belong of the family Otariidae.
Oct 11, 2016 · Seal species cover a wide range of sizes with the smallest being the 4 foot Baikal seal, and the largest being the gigantic Southern elephant seal. Elephant seals get their names from the appearance of mature males, who are not only enormous, but also develop pendulous, trunk-like noses.
Seals are protected from the cold by a thick layer of blubber; a clear membrane covers their eyes and their nostrils close and blood circulation to most of their organs is reduced while diving. They also have sensitive whiskers that help them detect prey in murky water. Seals can sleep underwater and can even surface to breathe without waking.
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What are earless seals?
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Eared seals have external ears, as their name suggests, and more dog-like snouts, further distinguishing them from the true seals. Earless seals, also called ‘true seals’ or ‘phocids’ are the most diverse and widespread of the pinnipeds. They lack external ears and more streamlined snouts and are generally more aquatically adapted.
