Seals can sleep both in the water and on land, making it easier for them to choose whatever’s best for their situation to avoid dangers. Protected Status. The largest is the southern elephant seal which grow to 13 … Spotted seals are found in the North Pacific Ocean ranging from Alaska to Japan. You can find seals in the Antarctic regions and in tropical waters. Crocodile Facts for Kids ... Its nostrils are uniquely shaped as ‘V’. including fur seals, sea lions, and common seals. No accurate range-wide abundance estimates exist for spotted seals. A seal swimming in the ocean. Photo credit: pixabay. The seal is a carnivorous mammal that usually feeds on fish, squid, shellfish, crustaceans or sea birds. Central America, Who is Chimu? 12. About once a year a female seal, called a cow, gives birth to one pup on land. Be the first! He used to routinely overturn parked cars in town and once even knocked over a restaurant’s power supply box. , Science Kids ©  |  Home  |  About  |  Topics  |  Experiments  |  Games  |  Facts  |  Quizzes  |  Projects  |  Lessons  |  Images  |  Videos  |  Privacy  |  Sitemap  |  Updated: Apr 11, 2020. Whiskers are one of seals’ attributes that add a lot to their cuteness, … However, many seals have spots. Nutrition Information for Oil, spotted seal (Alaska Native) Reviews. google_ad_slot = "9761313702"; Photo credit: pixabay. leopard seal facts The leopard seal is a fierce predator that primarily. Seals live on average for 25 - 30 years, females usually live longer than males. /* sci facts 728 */ The weight of the baby elephant seals can reach the weight of 80 pounds. Mothers give birth to one pup after a gestation period of 10 1/2 to 11 months. They can be easily recognized by their black spotted coat and snake-like appearance Leopard seals. 2. Animal encounters in remote wilderness, authentic experiences off the beaten trail and spectacular Autumn colours in Patagonia.”. Some, like the leopard seal, eat other species of seals. Status. Their whiskers also act as feelers in the sediments. Seals are semiaquatic marine mammals. google_ad_width = 160; The entire ringed seal lifecycle relies on ice and rapid ice loss in the Arctic causes seal pups to be prematurely separated from their mothers during the milking period. They are still commonly kept in captivity though and sometimes trained to perform tricks and tasks. It might be shaped like a submarine, a torpedo missile, or a seal. When breeding season arrives, however, these social animals gather on shore in very large numbers. 10. Sometimes t… Take a deep breath, gang, and join Nat Geo Kids as we learn ten fab facts about one seriously splash-tastic sea creature – in our bottlenose dolphin facts!. https://seaworld.org › animals › facts › mammals › leopard-seal . Although a great majority of species are not endangered – the Galapagos Fur Seal is one of the exceptions – seals are still a highly protected mammal in most parts of the world. A study in the Falkland Islands proved that alpha-male Elephant Seals are quite the possessive Don Juans. But even baby seals can dive … Seals are a prey source of marine mammal eating sharks, so this and the growing gray seal population may be the reasons we are seeing more great whites closer to shore in Massachusetts when seals are present during the summer. Learn more about seal habitats, what seals eat, how long they live and other interesting information with our fun seal facts. 2. Seals are warm-blooded, air breathing mammals The name Osian is derived from the old Irish Os plus the suffix in which means young dear. Adult spotted seals can weigh up to 270 pounds and be more than 5.5 feet long. In the wild, seals can live for up to 30 years with females boasting a higher life expectancy than males. Seals prefer cold sea waters and are primarily found in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The area in the bay where the scientists observed the most otter-on-seal mating sessions was also where there was a high population of transient … Interesting Facts About Seals. There currently aren't any reviews or comments for this usda nutrition. Estimates put their numbers at between 2 and 75 million. The seal pup with her mother. Seal Facts for Kids; Whale Facts for Kids; Reptiles. Interesting leopard seal facts and information . 3. That should make you feel a little better about your Christmas and New Year calorific splurge! Check out our cool facts about them, below… Stingray facts. Seals boast a gestation period of about 11 months, but the longest pregnancy in the pinniped family belongs to the walrus, which is pregnant for about 16 months. Harp seals spend most of their time diving and swimming in the icy waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. 1. Mother and baby seals recognise each other through a familiar call, with a study in Alaska finding that mum-bub recognition was possible even after a 4-year long separation. These seals are as bearded since they have abundant and prominent whiskers. Leopard seals can live up to 26 years in the wild. Learn more about seal habitats, what seals eat, how long they live and other interesting information with our fun seal facts. google_ad_slot = "5655995158"; Add A Review Now! /* sci facts 160 */ Like their feline namesakes, leopard seals are fierce predators. Comment on this. Seals are found in most waters of the world, mainly in the Arctic and Antarctic but also in some areas of the tropics. 14. For some, like yours truly, they may seem like a ‘spirit animal’. Photo credit: wikipedia. Travel Tips. There are many different species Seals are part of the pinniped order of marine mammals, which also includes sea lions, walruses and fur seals. Ross seals look different than other seals. Rate It! Seals are part of the pinniped order of marine mammals, which also includes sea lions, walruses and fur seals. Humans have traditionally hunted seals for their meat, blubber and fur coats, however seals are now protected by international law. Photo credit: Pixabay. Osian. They have four flippers, so are in a category of animals known as pinnipedia which means 'fin-footed'. Related Recipes roasted garlic and olive oil. Seals have been hunted throughout history, with their fat and fur being highly coveted. They spend a lot of time swimming and diving to catch fish and other animals, but they also spend some time on land to dry off, rest, and have babies. Facts about bottlenose dolphins. The pinnipeds group contains 3 families: phocidae, the earless or true seal (eg. Small dark spots are found all over, especially on the back and sides. Photo credit: pixabay. The main species hunted are Crabeater, Leopard and Weddell seals. 15. 13. Some seal species, like the Leopard Seal, feed off fellow seals! google_ad_height = 90; Harbor seals can be born as early as February in Baja California and as late as July in Europe. Spotted seals were once believed to be the same as the harbor seal species. It has spotted skin and there is a pattern of dark spots over pale silver background. The length is measured at 4 feet. They have a smaller, wider head, and a short snout. 1) Bottlenose dolphins are marine mammals that live in tropical and temperate oceans (oceans with mild temperatures) around the world. Arctic that live in or near the sea. Want to join on a seal-watching mission? As a mammal species, the grey seal is unable to breathe underwater, however it is able to stay underwater for so long by slowing its heart rate to conserve oxygen. Fun Facts for Kids. In Antarctic waters, there is a restricted amount of seal harvesting still being allowed. If you were trying to come up with the best shape for something that would be diving into the water, what would it be? 9. Photo credit: pixabay. She’s tour-guided overland trips through South America and Africa, travelled independently through the Middle East and has completed a 6-year motorbike trip from Europe to Australia. Appearance. fur seals and sea lions) and odobenidae (walrus). 1. As compare to other seals, they are much larger in size. The coat of adult spotted seals is usually a dark gray mantle over a lighter brownish or silvery base. As cute and friendly as they may look, seals can actually be fervently territorial and quite aggressive. 11. March 22 marks International Seal Day, a day the whole world should celebrate in earnest! A seal's whiskers help it to detect prey in dark murky waters. A seal mum’s milk can be up to 50% fat, and pups can put on 2kgs a DAY. Seals are marine mammals that live in cold coastal and ocean environments. They Hunt With Their Whiskers. Antarctica Rays and skates are flattened fish closely related to sharks. A seal and a Blue Footed Boobie in the Galapagos. MAD Project In Gisborne, New Zealand, a resident elephant seal, named Homer, had an infamous reputation for hooliganism. 8. Experts believed that Homer’s energetic ‘rubbings’ were actually ever-so-slightly misguided sexual advances. Seals are believed to have evolved from land based, bear or otter-like ancestors. individuals, worldwide. Slaughter of fur seals in Alaska in the 1890s. Your options are endless! Spotted seal pups, like the one pictured at left, are born with a soft, light-colored coat. including fur seals, sea lions, and common seals. google_ad_height = 600; Inhabits the cold southern ocean surrounding Antarctica Usually found alone. Seals mainly live in the water, they only come ashore to mate, give birth, moult or escape from predators such as orca whales and sharks. Most, however, feed off crustaceans, fish and seabirds (if they can catch them). Adults eat capelin, herring, arctic cod and Pollock. The ringed, ribbon, spotted and bearded seals, collectively known as “ice seals,” are Arctic inhabitants. Seals have a layer of fat under skin called blubber, which keeps them warm in cold water. 5. Seals range in size from about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) and 45 kg (100 lb) such as the earless Baikal seal and eared Galapagos fur seal, up to the 5 m (16 ft) and 3,200 kg (7,100 lb) southern elephant seal. Simply give us a holler and let us know you’re on the (photographic) hunt for some seals and we’ll T you up with a whole bunch of blubbery friends, “Laura Pattara is a modern nomad who’s been vagabonding around the world, non-stop, for the past 15 years. sweet vinegar oil dressing. They are able to remain submerged for up to 15 minutes. Males are generally slightly smaller than females. On land, Hooded seals will shiver due to the cold, but in the water, shivering is slowed or stops altogether. Sexual dimorphism is spotted on this animal because the female usually has the weight 10 times less than the male the counterpart. Seals are semiaquatic marine mammals. The ones that eat mostly fish specialize in oil-bearing species like eels, herrings, and anchovies because they swim in shoals and are easy to catch, and are good energy sources. Instead of being spotted like many other seal species, Ross seals have a streaked pattern on the sides of the neck and down the throat. 1. Contact Us, https://www.chimuadventures.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/shutterstock_386153719-600x667.jpg, https://www.chimuadventures.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/shutterstock_524004703-600x667.jpg, Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand. Spotted Seals have a body length between 1.4 and 2.1 m (4.6 - 6.9 ft) and they weigh between 65 and 150 kgs (140 - 330 lbs). During mating season, females form large colonies on floating ice and give birth to young. The Crabeater Seal, which can be spotted on an Antarctic cruise, boasts the largest population of all the seal species. 6. These seals have silver to light gray fur with dark spots. For safety, never swim near seals or haul out sites. Interesting Facts About Harp Seals. They have four flippers, so are in a category of animals known as pinnipedia which means 'fin-footed'. Fun Facts for Kids. common seal), otaridae, eared seals (eg. Breeding Season. google_ad_client = "pub-4643150179421087"; Grey seals are able to remain underwater for up to 16 minutes, although they normally tend to resurface after periods of around 5-10 minutes. When seals are not lazing about … Some seals can dive up to 900m in depth and some can hold their breath underwater for up to 2 hours! Researchers in New Zealand made a startling discovery when looking through leopard seal scat: a fully functioning USB stick. International seal day. Jim Orrill, Leaf Group Updated March 15, 2018. google_ad_client = "pub-4643150179421087"; 7. Seals and sea lions are mostly fish-eaters, although most of the species also eat squid, mollusks, crustaceans, marine worms, sea birds, and other seals. Description . The seals normally feed on small prey such as clams, fish and squid. Where They Live. Other Fun Facts Pages. Their slick fur coat is streamlined for gliding through water. There are 32 known species of seals. At Chimu Adventures, we run phenomenal tours through all of Laton America’s seeaally good wildlife-watching destinations, like Peru, the Galapagos, and Antarctica, among many many more. It has a unique diet. The leopard seal is named for its black-spotted coat. Fur seals may swim by themselves or gather in small groups. They have long bodies from 2.5 to 3.5 meters (8 to 11.5 feet) and elongated heads. All belong to a group of fish called Elasmobranchs. 4. 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