Seals, also referred to as pinnipeds comprise three different species of semi-aquatic, carnivorous marine mammals. The most diverse living marine mammals There are 33 kinds of seals widely distributed across the globe. Fossil records date back to the period of the Oligocene (27-25 million years ago). There are over 50 different species at the time of writing.
The three subclades in the pinniped comprise Phocidae, also known as genuine seals, Otariidae, which refers to fur seals, and sea lions, and Odobenidae, the only remaining species which is the whale. The first pinnipeds were marine carnivores with well-developed, feet and limbs shaped like paddles and most likely, experienced a freshwater-dwelling period when they moved from living on land to spending the majority of their time in the ocean.
Find out Facts About Seals, the adorable marine creatures.
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Best Facts About Seals
Seals are related with Bears, Skunks, and Badgers.
Biologists studying evolution have fought over the seal’s origins for over 100 years. Although it is generally accepted that pinnipeds evolved from carnivores that lived on land,, scientists are split regarding the exact steps between our ancient terrestrial ancestors and marine mammals of today. Alongside the three subclades that comprise pinnipeds the suborder Caniformia comprises Ursidae (bears), Mustelidae (badgers and otters), weasels, and other close relatives) as well as Mephitidae (skunks as well as stink badgers).
A complete skeleton of a semi-aquatic carnivore found in the early Miocene lake located in Nunavut, Canada, was identified and later became known as an evolutionary connection between land mammals and seals.
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“Earless” True Seals Actually Do Come With Ears
The ability of seals to hear varies among species. “Earless” seals do not have the external flap of their ear found on fur seals and sea lions. However, they have ears underneath the skin. Seals that are true seals (phocids) have a higher frequency of hearing underwater than the otariids (fur seals, sea lions) and the reverse applies to airborne sounds. All pinnipeds are more sensitive to underwater sounds than to airborne sounds.
The largest seal weighs more than Four Tons.
An elephant seal male from the southern part of Africa weighs an average of 8,000 pounds, while females are smaller.
This contrasts with the tiniest seal within the family of otariids called the Galapagos fur seal which weighs 60 and 140 pounds on average. Nearly all seals with the possible exception of the almost hairless walrus are covered with thick fur and also have layers of fat that keep them warm, a process known as the blubber.
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Mothers and their Pups bond with the Most Unique Contact
Researchers carried out vocalization playback studies on 18 female harbor seals that breed to test their ability to detect the sounds of their pups and determine the impact of maternal protection. They discovered the mothers to be more responsive to calls of their puppy than to pups from non-filial litters after just three days. Seal mothers’ responses differed based on their protection behavior toward their child. The species of seals where the youngsters are more mobile and larger colonies tend to acquire vocal identification abilities.7
They have “Smoker’s blood” To help survive Deep Dives
Humans and seals, who are heavy users have high amounts of carbon monoxide in their bloodstreams. Humans acquire it through smoking tobacco. Research suggests that seals’ carbon monoxide levels are related to their deep breaths. One study revealed that the seal’s blood is about 10 percent carbon monoxide which scientists attribute to seals’ breathing for a significant portion of their lifetime. Inhaling is the sole way for animals to flush carbon monoxide out of its body.8
Baikal Seal Baikal Seal Is the World’s only Freshwater Pinniped
One of the smallest seals The Baikal, is a symbol of the seal’s evolutionary transition from semi-aquatic to terrestrial where seals were likely to spend some time in freshwater prior to moving from the land to the oceans. Lake Baikal, a freshwater lake located in Siberia is filled with a myriad of fascinating animals and is also the longest-running and deepest lake on this planet.9
The temperature of their brains drops when They Scuba Dive
Studies on seals that had hoods revealed an increase in the brain’s temperature of 3° Celsius over 15 minutes of diving, in a method designed to decrease the consumption of oxygen in the brain. Seals carried cold blood toward the brain via the vast superficial veins that emanate that originate from their front flippers. Which in turn reduced the brain’s oxygen requirement by 15% to 20 percent. The seal’s swimming capacity significantly and also provides defense against hypoxic injury.10
They are able to eat lots of Seafood
Since seals typically live on the coast, they mostly consume squid, fish, shrimp, and different crustaceans, mollusks, and zooplankton species. Researchers believe that their ancestors from the land included insectivores.11 Larger seals are able to consume about 10 pounds worth of food each day. With the increase of certain populations in recent years, scientists are studying the effect on seals’ prey, including salmon. They are encouraging the use of management techniques that protect seals and the potential threat to fisheries.12
Change in Climate Change is the latest threat they face.
Over the past 100 years, it has been reported that both the Japanese sea lion and Caribbean monk seal are now extinct each the last century. The former is a signpost of the human-caused decline of coral reefs. In the past, seals have been threatened by hunts, accidental trapping or marine pollution, and conflict with local people.13 In recent years, seals are facing a new danger in the form of habitat loss due to the effects of climate change.
Seals that live in the Arctic are classified as endangered by the Endangered Species Act because their sea-ice habitat is melting. Advocacy groups are working hard to think of shifts in the habitat of these animals as climate conditions change.
