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- Fossil records indicate that the ancestors of modern seals first entered the ocean on the west coast, about 28–30 million years ago.
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Where do they come from? Evidence suggests that pinnipeds evolved from a bear-like land animal that hunted in the water for food. How many are there? There are more than 30 species of seals worldwide. What do they eat? Seals are carnivorous and dive underwater to hunt for fish, crustaceans, seabirds, and other marine animals.
Some species spend the majority of their life in the ocean—female northern elephant seals spend 66 percent of their time in the open ocean. Despite looking similar, seals and sea lions propel themselves through the water in different ways.
- They Have Been Around For A Long time.
- There Are Three Different Major Types of pinnipeds.
- They Have Whiskers They Use Like Cats do.
- They Can Go For Long Periods of Time Without eating.
- It’S Okay For Them to Dry out.
- They Get All of Their Water Through The Foods They Eat.
- Some Pinnipeds Move in A Caterpillar-Like Motion But Others “Walk."
- Some Pinniped Pups Can Weigh More Than 20 Pounds at Birth!
- Some Pinnipeds, Like The Northern Fur Seal, Can Outrun Humans on Slippery Rocks.
Fossil records indicate that the ancestors of modern seals first entered the ocean on the west coast, about 28–30 million years ago. Learn more fun facts about seals Learn more about seal ecology and assessment research in the Northwest Atlantic
“Phocid seals” are also called “true seals” and include several species such as harbor seals and gray seals. Phocid seals primarily use their back flippers to push themselves through the water (like rear-wheel drive) and do not have external ear flaps. “Otariid seals” are also called “eared seals” and include all the species of sea lions and fur se...
Seals and sea lions have many well-developed whiskers, much like cats. Like cats, they have a very acute sense of touch. Scientists think seals can use their whiskers to detect vibrations from swimming prey. Blind seals in the wild seem to be able to hunt and feed without sight.
A seal’s body stores enough fat in the blubber layer to allow the animal to go for extended periods of time without eating. In addition, most seals are opportunistic feeders—meaning they will eat whatever is available—consuming a variety of fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. Seals do not eat on land.
Seals and sea lions do not need to be wet constantly. They come out of the water to rest, molt, or care for their pups. Well-intentioned people who find seals on the beach and try to keep them wet are inadvertently harassing the animals, which is prohibited under federal laws and regulations. If you see a seal on the beach, give them space and let ...
Like all marine mammals, seals and sea lions get all the water they need from their food. Their bodies are very efficient at removing and recycling water from their food. They avoid drinking sea water; if a seal or sea lion drinks too much sea water it can become seriously sick. Arctic seals, which spend time on ice, may sometimes eat fresh water i...
For example, a harbor seal’s pelvic bones are fused, preventing them from moving their hind flippers under their pelvis to walk on land. Instead, they move by undulating in a caterpillar-like motion. This does not mean they are injured. Fur seals and sea lions can rotate their hind flippers under their body, which allows them to “walk” on land rath...
Harbor seal pups, one of the smaller species of seals, weigh about 24 pounds at birth and are ready to swim within minutes. They are nursed for 4 to 6 weeks on milk that is 50 percent fat. Northern elephant seal pups weigh 75 pounds at birth, for instance; grey seals weigh 35 pounds.
Northern fur seals have a stocky body, small head, very short snout, and extremely dense fur that ends at the wrist lines of their flippers. Their flippers are the longest in the fur seal family. Their hind flippers can measure up to one-fourth of their total body length. Their fore flippers are incredibly strong, allowing them to walk or run on al...
They spend most of their lives in water, but come ashore to mate, give birth, molt or to avoid ocean predators, such as sharks and orcas. Seals mainly live in marine environments but can also be found in fresh water.
Mar 20, 2024 · Up until recently, experts entertained the possibility that today’s array of seals, sea lions and walruses originated from two different ancestral lineages, says Canadian Museum of Nature ...
- Riley Black
Apr 19, 2022 · They occur on the U.S. East and West coasts. On the East Coast, harbor seals are found from the Canadian Arctic to the Mid-Atlantic. Harbor seals are found all along the West Coast of North America, from Baja California, Mexico to the Bering Sea.
Seals are a group of three families and 33 species of web-footed aquatic mammals. They have round bodies that taper at the ends and a thick layer of blubber that keeps them warm, stores nutrients, and helps them float. Seals can come in a range of sizes, from the 1.1 metre-long Baikal seal to the 6.5 metre-long elephant seal that can weigh up ...
