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Sea lions are the only aquatic mammals that swim this way. Seals, walruses, whales, otters, and others rely on the back end of their bodies—their tail—to produce thrust. Instead, the sea lion tail is used like a rudder. By using their front flippers, sea lions are easily the fastest group of pinnipeds.
Jun 17, 2013 · The videos above show how a highly trained free-diver compares in breath-holding ability to a common seal. And here we explore some of the most extreme examples of breath-holding in the animal ...
Feb 9, 2023 · There are over 30 various species of seals and sea lions living in the world’s oceans, all of which swim a great deal faster than the average human. Although they appear clumsy and awkward on land, in the water, the seal uses its torpedo-shaped body and fin-like feet to perform amazing feats of agility and predation.
Seabirds are uniquely adapted to life at sea and play a vital role in marine ecosystems. These seabirds exhibit a range of behaviors and characteristics, from soaring across vast oceans to plunging into its depths to catch their prey.
- They have been around for a long time. Fossil records indicate that the ancestors of modern seals first entered the ocean on the west coast, about 28–30 million years ago.
- There are three different major types of pinnipeds. “Phocid seals” are also called “true seals” and include several species such as harbor seals and gray seals.
- They have whiskers they use like cats do. Seals and sea lions have many well-developed whiskers, much like cats. Like cats, they have a very acute sense of touch.
- They can go for long periods of time without eating. A seal’s body stores enough fat in the blubber layer to allow the animal to go for extended periods of time without eating.
These opportunistic feeders mainly consume fish like cod, eels, pollock, flatfish, and whiting. Also on a gray seal’s menu are crustaceans, mollusks, octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, and sometimes seabirds. Like their cousins, they’re vulnerable to predation by orcas and sharks.
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Jun 2, 2023 · Seals are usually peaceful and non-aggressive unless they feel threatened. Situations, where seals would feel endangered or display aggression, are when a mother is with her young, when two males are fighting over a female or for territory, or when a seal is approached directly by a human.