Seal pics
Seals are found all over the world, and there are 33 known species of them. They fall into a category of animals known as the pinnipeds. This is due to the fact that they have winged feet. Research has revealed that seals are descendants of a bear-like ancestor that roamed the earth 23 million years ago. The smallest seal on record is the Galapagos seal that weighs nearly 30 kg, while the largest seal on record is the southern bull elephant seal that weighs above 2,000 kg. Source
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There are two main types of seals: the 'eared' seals and the 'true' seals, which have no protruding ear. The 'eared' ones have hairless hind flippers that can be brought under their bodies making them very agile both on land and at sea. 'True' seals have furred hind flippers that they use to swim, but on land they are dragged behind the body in awkward 'snakelike' undulations. Seals spend the majority of their time in the water searching for food or on packed ice flows where they mate, give birth and care for their pups. They are not very agile on land because their pelvis is fused and inflexible. Therefore, the seal can only move like an inchworm while on land. The Hooded seal has a special black membrane in his nose that he can blow air into and make as big as a soccer ball to warn off other males during breeding season. When he closes one nostril and blows out the other, he can expand a red membrane that looks like a balloon on his nose. Source1 Source2
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Elephant seals take their name from the large snout of the adult males(bulls) which resembles an elephant's trunk. The bull's snout is used in producing extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating season. More importantly, however, the nose acts as a sort of rebreather, filled with cavities designed to reabsorb moisture from the animals' exhalations. This is important during the mating season when the male seals rarely leave the beach to feed and therefore must conserve body moisture as they have no incoming source of water. Source
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Male and female elephant seals.
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Seal spotted in Dierenrijk Europa Netherlands.
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Cape Cross Seal Colony, Namibia.
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Northern Elephant Seals, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon.
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