10 Fun Facts About Seals

10 Fun Facts About Seals

Dive with seals into the realm of the marine ecosystem. They are marine mammals classified under the pinnipeds category. They grip our imaginations with their unique adaptations to their environment.

What’s more, some of the amazing features of seals are their ability to survive under very low temperatures. For example, the Weddell seals inhabiting the Arctic zone can accommodate up to -70 degrees Fahrenheit.

On top of that, seals can go hundreds of meters deep in water. They also have quite a prowess in vocalizations as a form of communication with each other. These marine creatures also fit in both freezing and temperate climates. They can also treat you to an acrobatic performance in water and their playful aspect makes them sociable on coastlines. Catch more insights about seals below.

Here are the 10 Fun Facts About Seals.

1. Seals are marine mammals

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Mammals are identical in that they use their lungs to breathe and they are warm-blooded. This means their internal body temperature is constant. All mammals also grow hair/ fur at some point in their lives and they can produce milk to feed their young ones.

To add on, marine mammals have the unique adaptation of inhabiting environments inside or nearby water sources like oceans. Further marine mammals are classified into four groups. The first group is cetaceans which include whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Another category is pinnipeds which consist of seals, sea lions, and walruses. The third group is sirenians where the manatees and dugongs belong. The final marine mammal grouping is the marine fissipeds whose members are polar bears and sea otters.

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2. Seals make up a majority of the Pinnipeds family

The pinnipeds marine mammal classification prides itself on about 33 species. Most of these species consist of seals.

3. Seals inhabit both cold and temperate climates

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All seals are under three categories that are, true seals (earless), eared seals, and walrus. The true seals are the likes of the harbor, harp, ringed, ribbon, ross, crabeater among others.

Additionally, eared seals include sea lions and fur seals like the Antarctic fur seal as well as the brown fur seal and more. Thus eared seals except fur seals are popular in temperate environments and are present in zoos. The fur seals inhabit cold regions such as the Antarctic. The Antarctica zone also includes all true seals (have no ears). Walruses live in the Arctic region.

4. They are great swimmers

Seals can swim up to speeds of about 18 mph. Their streamlined body contributes to their swift motion underwater. Some use their front flippers as paddles while others make use of their back feet to propel themselves.

On top of that, they can dive up to hundreds of meters deep. They start with a downward swim, then assume a gliding flight posture as they sink deeper.

5. Seals tend to have sociable mannerisms

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They are social animals and display characteristics of curiosity and playfulness. The harbor seals for instance are often spotted on coastline rocks resting on their side. Sometimes they are playful and seen rolling on the ground as well as jumping in and out of the water.

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6. The blubber on their bodies keeps them warm underwater

Seals have a blubber (thick layer of fat) which prevents them from cold ocean temperatures. Most of the marine mammals including the whales have a blubber. During low food supply, the blubber breaks down this fat to provide energy for the animals.

7. Leopard seals have outstanding vocalizations

The leopard seals produce trills and hoots that can be heard above the water, especially during the breeding season. The male species tend to vocalize more and aloud during breeding seasons as they search for a mate. This breeding season sometimes can last up to four months.

8. The rarest of the seals is the Mediterranean monk seal

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are about 600–700 creatures belonging to this species in the wild. Hence making the Guinness World Record for the rarest species of seal. It inhabits the western Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic.

9. Some seal species have seasonal migrations each year

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The harp seal is a perfect example. Their name originates from the curved black patch on the backs of adult harp seals which resemble a harp. They live in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

Moreover, they migrate often and can make up to 3,000 miles round-trip every year. Hence during summer, they are on their northern feeding grounds (the Canadian Arctic and Greenland). At such times they hunt for fish and crustaceans.

In the fall, around September the harp seals begin migration to their breeding grounds. So they move southward to the Gulf of St. Lawrence specifically to the waters off southern Labrador and northern Newfoundland.

10. Seals are carnivores

They eat squid, crustaceans, mollusks, various fish types, crustaceans, seabirds, and other marine animals. They make use of their whiskers to locate prey. So they can detect the slightest movements in the water.

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Here are extra quick facts about Seals

11. Seals have the diving reflex like other marine mammals. It enables them to hold their breath while underwater.

12. They are a delightful scientific and tourist attraction thanks to their agility and acrobatic prowess in the water.

13. Seals communicate with other members of their species through vocalizations, the use of body postures, and head movements.

14. Weddell seals can survive Arctic temperatures which can go as low as -70 degrees Fahrenheit.

15. Seals are at the center of popular culture via literature and film. Disney’s film The Little Mermaid has the famed character Sebastian representing seals.

Seals are a reminder of the diversity of our natural world. They showcase the wonder of marine ecosystems. Their unique abilities in diving, strong vocalizations, playful nature, and acrobatic displays all exhibit the beauty of seals.