Seals, one of the ocean’s captivating creatures, belong to an animal group known as pinnipeds – meaning fin-footed mammals – comprising 32 species adapted for swift swimming with bodies that are round in the center and tapered at both ends. Primarily inhabiting cold seas, seals have developed perfectly into aquatic life while still showing their unique and fascinating biology.
This comprehensive guide presents seven vital facts about seals to provide more insight into these marine mammals.
7 Essential Facts About Seals
1: Seals Are Marine Mammals Adapted to Live Both on Land and in Water
Seals are marine mammals uniquely equipped for life on land and water. While spending most of their lives swimming through ocean waters, their sleek bodies and flippers make for incredible swimming abilities. Seals still spend part of each year resting, molting, and giving birth on land.
Seals boast thick fat pads to insulate them against cold waters and an ability to slow their heart rates so they can dive deep underwater—two adaptations that help them thrive in marine and terrestrial environments.
2: Seals Are Also Called Pinnipeds
Seals, also known as pinnipeds in Latin, are marine mammals with fin-like flippers. This term refers to mammals with both front and rear flippers.
Millions of years ago, their ancestors were land-dwelling animals that resembled weasels or bears. Over time, however, these land animals began transitioning towards marine environments, eventually evolving into the seals we know today.
3: Earless Seals Have Ears
Earless or “true” seals such as harbor seals, Hawaiian monk seals, and harp seals are pinnipeds with pinnipeds that do not possess external ear flaps and only contain small ear holes on either side of their heads; in order to see their ears properly requires coming very close by them. To see their ears, you need to get very close.
4: Seals Can Sleep Underwater
Seals have the unique ability to sleep underwater for short periods to evade predators. After diving deep and nodding off while sleeping, seals twirl as they descend sometimes flipping their belly up! Sometimes, they even rest on the ocean floor itself!
This entire underwater sleep cycle, from dive and rest to actual sleeping time, takes under 30 minutes per cycle; actual restless rest typically only lasts 10 minutes per cycle. After they wake up from this phase of their restful, restful, restful, restful REM sleep cycle, they swim back out for air before repeating it over and over.
5: Some Seals Migrate Hundreds of Miles Yearly for Food
Every year, northern fur seals travel great distances in search of food sources – in one instance, from the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea alone, they set out on an incredible journey of more than 6,000 miles round trip! Their migration serves a key function – they need food in abundance in their environment to survive; by undertaking such long treks, they show remarkable adaptation skills that meet all their nutritional requirements and maintain life itself.
6: Seals Are Skilled at Holding Their Breath Underwater
Seals are incredible animals when it comes to submerging themselves underwater for extended periods. Their thick layer of blubber keeps them warm while they are submerged for up to 1.5 hours at a time in cold waters.
Adult harbor seals, in particular, have the incredible oxygen storage capacities necessary to dive to depths of 1,500 feet and remain submerged for over 30 minutes – thanks to their exceptional lung capacity and capacity.
7: The Largest Seal Weighs More Than Four Tons
The Southern Elephant Seal (Heterodon elegans) is one of the largest seal species, weighing in at over 4 tons in male form and around 8,000 lbs in females; females tend to be much smaller. Comparatively, Galapagos Fur Seals weigh only 60 to 140 lbs on average compared to this giant species.
Conclusion
Seals, as marine mammals, have developed unique adaptations for survival both underwater and on land. From their sleek bodies to being capable of sleeping underwater and migrating long distances in search of food sources, seals showcase remarkable abilities.
These facts about seals provide a window into their marine world and expand your understanding of their unique biology and behavior.
FAQs
What are 5 interesting facts about seals?
- Seals are marine mammals capable of inhabiting both land and sea environments.
- Pinnipeds (of which seals are part) have fin-like flippers called pinnipediformes.
- Earless seals have ears without external flaps
- Seals can rest underwater for short periods.
- Some seals migrate hundreds of miles annually in search of food sources.
How big can a seal get?
On average, male seals typically measure around 7-8 feet long and weigh between 660-770 lbs, while females usually grow to be 6 to 6.5 feet long and range in weight between 300 to 500 lbs.
What is the world’s largest seal?
The southern elephant seal is distinguished by possessing one of the world’s largest seats, at over four tons (8,000 pounds for males).
How long does a seal live for?
Seal lifespan varies significantly by species, with some living up to 25-30 years in the wild.
How fast can seals swim?
Seals typically travel at speeds around six mph and have been known to achieve peak burst speeds of 18 mph.