When you buy through radio link on our site , we may garner an affiliate commission . Here ’s how it lick .
sealing wax and ocean lions are semiaquatic mammals that are in a grouping call pinnatiped , meaning " quintet - footed . " Walruses are also phallus of this chemical group . While related , all three are in different taxonomic kin .
" genuine " seals , also called earless seal , are fellow member of the Phocidae syndicate , agree to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System ( ITIS ) . Sea lions are members of the Otariidae family unit ( eared seal ) , along with several metal money of fur seals . Walrusesare in the Odobenidae family unit .
A new flu virus has killed harbor seal pups.
As their name imply , one remainder between the two types of seals is their ears . Eared seal have external ear flaps , while straight seals do not . Another divergence is that the rear flippers of unfeigned seals point back , and these seal move on res publica with an up - and - down ripple gesture . Fur sealskin and sea Leo can rotate their hind feet and use them to walk along with some speed . Also , pelt seals are so - constitute because they have thick fur that can trap air and aid keep them strong . True seals have slender fur and apply blubber for insulation .
Seal sizes
There are 18 species of honest seals , concord toSeals World . The large is thesouthern elephant seal . Males are massive , weighing up to 8,500 lbs . ( 3,855.5 kilograms ) . Females are much smaller , but still consider more than a car at 2,000 lbs . ( 907.18 kilo ) . Males assess about 20 infantry long ( 6 meters ) , while females are about one-half as long .
The little is the ringed seal , with an fair duration of 5 infantry ( 1.5 m ) and a weight of 110 to 150 lb . ( 50 to 70 kg ) . Unlike other seals , males and female person are about the same size . Theringed sealis the most usual cachet in the Arctic , agree to theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA ) .
There are 16 species of eared seals ; seven of them are sea king of beasts species . One of the most recognize metal money , accord to the NOAA , is theCalifornia ocean lion , which is often featured doing trick at zoos and aquariums . In the wild , these animals live along the West Coast of North America . They are often seen sunning themselves on beaches , docks and jetties . Males average about 700 pound . ( 315 kilogram ) and can touch above 1,000 lb . ( 455 kg ) . Females average 240 lbs . ( 110 kg ) . [ heading : Seals of the existence ]
The Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is home to one fifth of California’s harbor seals. These marine mammals rely on safe havens within the Sanctuary to haul-out, rest, and breed.
Habitat
True seals typically live in the cold sea waters of the Arctic or off the coasts of Antarctica . Some seals make caves in the snow to live in . Others never forget the ice rink pack and drone ventilation hole in the ice , fit in to theNational Snow and Ice Data Center . Harp , circinate , hooded , spotted , bearded and palm seals go in the Arctic . Crabeater , Weddell , Panthera pardus and Ross Navy SEAL live in the Antarctic .
Fur seal and sea Lion live in the Northern Pacific between Asia and North America and off the coasts of South America , Antarctica , southwestern Africa and southerly Australia . They can spend about two long time in the capable sea before return to their procreation cause , grant to the NOAA .
Diet
Seals generally prey on fish , but they will also run through eel , squid , octopus and lobster . Leopard seals will eat penguins and smaller seals , fit in to Seals World . The gray seal of approval can consume 10 pound ( 4.53 kg ) of food in one Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . They sometimes skip over eating for a few days , and often stop feed totally during felt up season and will live off Energy Department from their stash away - up fatness for weeks .
Baby seals
When mating season comes , manlike seal will issue deep , throaty calls to draw in the attention of females . A manlike seal will also call out to let other Male know that his females are speak for . Male are very territorial when it comes to coupling . They will fight for the right hand to couple , hit and biting each other . The winner puzzle the chance to mate with up to 50 females in their area .
mother bear their young for a gestation geological period of around 10 months . When they feel the time is right , some seals will dig nest in the moxie on which to have their untried . Seals and ocean Panthera leo have just one puppy a year . Others , like the mouth organ cachet , will have their babies right away on berg . Baby seals , called pups , will stay on land until their waterproof pelt grows in . This can take around a month .
female person will match and become pregnant again as shortly as her pups are wean . Male are not able-bodied to twin until they are around 8 years older , because it takes that longsighted for them to raise big enough and strong enough to win a mating scrap .
The seal pup and Ursula, the mother. The baby is the first born at the New England Aquarium in Boston, which is trying to breed the vulnerable animals.
Classification/taxonomy
All pinnipeds — phocids ( honest seal ) , otariids ( eared seals ) and odobenids ( walrus ) — are in dissimilar families in the suborder Caniformia ( doglike carnivores ) and are connect to dogs , coyotes , Charles James Fox , wolves , skunks , otter and bears .
The taxonomy of seals , allot to ITIS , is :
Eared seals ( fur seal and sea social lion )
A killer whale identifies a Weddell seal resting on an ice floe off the western Antarctic Peninsula. The whale will notify other killer whales in the area so they can coordinate a wave to wash the seal off the floe.
Genera and species :
True seals
Conservation status
All pinniped — Navy SEAL , ocean lions and sea horse — are protected in U.S. urine under the Marine Mammal Protection Act , accord to NOAA . Most seals are not weigh endangered , harmonise to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) . There are a few exceptions , though . TheGalápagos fur sealand themonk sealare both endangered . Some local populations , such as gray seal in the Baltic Sea , are endangered . The northern fur sealing wax and hooded seal are vulnerable . The Caribbean Thelonious Monk seal was declared extinct in 2008 .
Other facts
The crabeater sealing wax has the largest population of any species of seal in the earthly concern . It is estimated there are 2 million to 75 million case-by-case seals , according to theIUCN .
Elephant seals have what is called " smoker ’s blood " because they have the same amount ofcarbon monoxide in their bloodas a soul who smokes 40 or more cigarettes each mean solar day , fit in to researchers . scientist think this high level of gas pedal in their rake may protect them when they dive to deep levels in the sea .
harmonica sealing wax can detain submersed for up to 15 minutes . Weddell seals are even more impressive . The can remain underwater for up to 80 minutes . They only pop up for air when they find holes in the sparkler layers above the sea .
Nina Sen contributed to this clause .
Other resources
