Page 19 - World of Animals - Issue #28 Magazine

Digestive tract Eyes
When compared to other Instead of just
herbivores, seals have a closing their eyes
relatively short digestive system. underwater, harp
This is because a carnivorous seals have a special
diet provides such high quality membrane covering
nutrients; it takes less time to their eyes to protect
digest. This is in contrast to a them from the harsh
herbivorous diet, where more salty waters.
digestion is needed to acquire
the same amount of nutrients.

Nose
While underwater, harp
seals will sacrifice their

Insulating fur sense of smell and close
their nostrils to prevent
water entering.

Kidney
Whiskers
Even in the murky depths of
the sea, they are able to sense
their prey using their sensitive
Intestine whiskers, which can detect
movement and vibrations.

Colon

Hind flipper

Bladder The hind flippers are corrugated into
five digits, each with smaller, narrower

claws than the front flippers. They
are not able to rotate the hind flipper

underneath the body to walk, and
instead use their two front flippers to

pull themselves.

Closest family

Closely related to the harp seal are...
Liver

Fat layer

Northern fur seal Monk seal Hooded seal
This species was almost In ancient Greece, monk This seal is known and named
driven to extinction in the seals were placed under the for the large ‘hood’ of the male.
18th and 19th centuries due to protection of Poseidon and A unique appendage that can

Sexual maturity (male) Old age hunting pressures. They are Apollo because of their great be inflated to what resembles
6-8 years 20-30 years now protected, but face a new love of the sea and sun. The a red ball, it hangs from the
Males take slightly longer to mature. Harp seals live for a long time in the wild. threat through an increase of Mediterranean monk seal forehead and grows in size

They will become promiscuous, The average lifespan is around 20 years, krill fisheries depleting their is one of the world’s most when the male is threatened
breeding for the rest of their lives. but some have been recorded to live to 35. food source. endangered mammals. or excited.
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