2010
Search results
- DictionarySeal/sē(ə)l/
noun
- 1. a device or substance that is used to join two things together so as to prevent them from coming apart or to prevent anything from passing between them: "blue smoke from the exhaust suggests worn valve seals"
- 2. a piece of wax, lead, or other material with an individual design stamped into it, attached to a document to show that it has come from the person who claims to have issued it.
verb
- 1. fasten or close securely: "he folded it, sealed the envelope, and walked to the mailbox"
- 2. apply a nonporous coating to (a surface) to make it impervious: "seal the finish with a satin varnish"
News about SEAL Team 6, Taiwan, China invasion
News about Harvey Weinstein, indictment, sex crime charges
Also in the news
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel [3] [4] (born 19 February 1963) is a British singer, songwriter, and record producer. [5] He is the recipient of three Brit Awards , four Grammy Awards , and an MTV Video Music Award , with sold 20 million albums or singles sold by October 2011. [ 6 ]
Learn the various meanings and uses of the word seal, from a marine mammal to a device that confirms or secures something. See examples, synonyms, phrases, and related articles for seal.
- Overview
- Seal diversity
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
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.
Britannica Quiz
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.
Learn about seal, any of 32 species of web-footed aquatic mammals that live in cold seas and have different types of ears and flippers. Find out how seals swim, dive, breed, and are hunted for their fur and oil.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Jun 24, 2020 · Who Is Seal? Seal scored his first major U.K. hit, "Killer," before releasing his 1991 debut album. He's become an internationally renowned singer/songwriter with albums like Human...
Jul 31, 2024 · Learn about Seal, a British singer who blended Motown, rock, and house music and won multiple Grammy Awards. Find out about his early life, career, albums, and personal life.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Watch the official music video for "Future Love Paradise" by Seal, a song from his 1991 album 'Seal'. Learn more about the new Deluxe Edition of 'Seal' coming in November 2022.
- 5 min
- 364.6K
- Seal
Learn about the 33 species of seals, also known as pinnipeds, that live on every continent except Antarctica. Find out how they adapt to different habitats, what they eat, and how they are affected by climate change and human activities.
Related searches
