Seals

   Eared seals are called this because they have ear flaps that cover their ear openings. Other species have uncovered ear openings. Another characteristic of these seals is that their hind flippers can be rotated forward and down, so they can use all of their flippers to walk on land. Sea lions have broader, less pointy noses. Both species live well on land, and can travel pretty far from the shore. Earless seals do not have ear flaps, but the do have ears. In fact, they have an excellent sense of hearing on land or in the sea. They can't use their rear flippers to help them walk on land. They pull themselves forward on their stomachs, onto land. On land they do not move as fast s eared seals, and cannot travel very far from shore. Earless seals swim in a side-to-side motion, like most fish do. They can dive much better than Earless seals. The largest pinniped is none other than the southern elephant seal, which lives in the cold waters of Antarctica.  The male may grow 16 feet  long and weigh 8,800 pounds. This seal wins 2nd place in size only to whales among all sea creatures. One of the smallest pinniped is the ringed seal. It most of the time grows to be about 3 and a half feet long and weighs 110 to 200 pounds. Fur seals rely almost entirely on their thick fur coats. It is fine fur that is an insulation against the cold, in result of keeping the fur seal very warm and comfortable. Other seals also rely on something, but it's not fur, it is a layer of blubber measuring  usually 1 to 6 inches thick.

    All seals have slit-like nostrils,  which they can close when they dive and swim. Some kinds of seals have small heads with short noses. Adult male elephant seals have a long, wrinkled curved nose that helps them attract mates. The nose of a hooded seal has a pouch that extends to the top of its head. When a competing male approaches, the seal inflates the pouch as a threat, making his head appear larger, and more ferocious. An additional pouch inside the nostril also inflates, forming a bright red "balloon" on display. Seals have large eyes and can see in the dark. This enables them to eat at night and or swim in the water which has little light. All seals have whiskers on their upper lip. The whiskers are sensitive to touch, and most likely help the animal to find its food.

    Seals have four legs, but the leg bones above the ankles do not extend outside of the seal's body. The ankles and the feet form large, paddle-like flippers. The front flippers of fur seals and sea lions are longer and flatter than an earless seal's.  A fur seal's front flippers may be more than even 18 inches long and 6 inches wide.

   When mating season comes the seals flock to the rookeries or mating grounds. There they mate and carry. Their young. Rookeries accommodate up to 150,000 seals every mating season. The locations of the different species' rookeries vary. Fur seal and sea lion rookeries are always on islands. Earless seal rookeries are usually on the shores of continents or large islands. Seal rookeries are on large sandy beaches and rocky cliffs.

    Bull seals fight to create and protect a territory in a rookery. They also protect the cows in these territories. Male seals without a group of females  often are not a part of the herd. Female seals favor the largest males possible during mating season. Female seals are old enough to have pups at five to six years old  and up. They give birth every year after the first year they give birth. The longest a female seal has given birth is 25 years.

    Like humans seal babies take 9 months to develop. A mother seal rarely has twins, usually they only have one pup. When the pups are born they are coated with very soft fur. Sea lion pups are born with brown fur, fur seals, elephant seals,and monk seals are born with black fur.The seals born with white fur include harp seals, leopard seals, and walruses. Seals are born with the ability to see , waddle, and yelp. Some species of seal, such as, the harbor seal can swim a few minutes after birth.

     All seals raise their pups differently. Earless seal mothers usually remain at the rookery until their pup is weaned. Unlike the earless seal the harbor seal, ringed seal, and weddell seal eat while raising their pups.

    Fur seals and sealions eat mostly fish and squid, while harbor seals eat octopus. Leopard seals feed on penguins and some other seals. Elephant seals also prefer fish and squid.