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- Seals, compared to their Sea lion cousins, mostly live in Polar ocean regions around the Arctic and Antarctic, like the Harp and Leopard Seals. There are species, like the Monk Seal, who do not live in the cold polar regions and tend to live in the warm waters closer to the equators around the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Hawaii.
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Feb 9, 2023 · Seals come in various colors, with some, like leopard seals, sporting spots or blotches on their backs. As much as they vary in color, they also fluctuate in size. The smallest is the little-known Baikal seal of Siberia which measures approximately four feet long, while the largest is the walrus, which can reach over 20 feet.
- 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.
Sep 26, 2024 · 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.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Nov 24, 2023 · 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.
- Sea lions, seals, and walruses all belong to the Pinniped order, so they do have a lot of similar features to one another. However, differences in...
- With so many species of seals, it’s no wonder that their lifespan varies greatly. Some of the smaller species may live for as long as 30 years, whi...
- If you’ve ever seen a seal’s head bobbing up and down in the water, eyes closed, there’s a good chance it’s sleeping. They’re able to float near th...
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. Where do they come from? Evidence suggests that pinnipeds evolved from a bear-like land animal that hunted in the water for food.
Oct 11, 2016 · Seals are known as the true seals, the earless seals or the crawling seals. A male seal is called a bull, a female is called a cow, and a baby is called a pup. A group of seals is called a colony on land, and a raft when in the water.
Evolutionarily speaking, seals are thought to be most closely related to bears and the group of animals that includes weasels and otters, as well as skunks, raccoons, and red pandas. Varied diets
