Page 87 - World of Animals - Book of Sharks & Ocean Predators
P. 87

Grey seals
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            Where can you see them?                          ABOVE Seal watching boat approaches
                                                             a sand bar in Blakeney, Norfolk, UK
            The grey seal is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean

























                    “Seals have a thick                       What’s the difference between a
                 layer of blubber and                         seal and a sea lion?

                                                              They’re o en confused, but these two sea predators are very diff erent
                   waterproof fur that
                                                                              Ears
               keeps them insulated”                                          Sea lions have external ear flaps on either side of their head,

                                                                              whereas true seals only have ear openings without flaps.


                                                                              Seals have lost their ear flaps over time to become more
                                                                              streamlined when swimming.
                                                                                                           Swimming ability
                                                                                                           Seals have evolved to be
                                                             Sounds                                        more streamlined than sea
                                                             Sea lions bark and are                        lions because they spend
                                                             notoriously noisy, but                        more time in water. While
                                                             seals are much less                           sea lions can dive to depths
                                                             vocal. Seals do make                          of 275 metres (900 feet),
                                                             a variety of sounds but                       seals can reach depths of
                                                             these are mostly used                         4,100 metres (13,450 feet).
                                                             to attract mates.




                                                                                       Back fl ippers
                                                                                       A sea lion’s back flippers can rotate outwards to aid



                                                                                       walking, but a seal’s back flippers are fixed facing
                                                                                       backwards. Because of this, sea lions are better at escaping
                                                             Steering                  predators on land than seals.
                                                             Sea lions steer with their long

                                                             front flippers, whereas seals
                                                             change direction with their

                                                             back flippers. The bones in   Whiskers
                                                             a seal’s                Both seals and sea lions use their whiskers to detect
                                                             back flippers are extremely   vibrations, helping them find food and sense predators.


                                                             long and strong, and they   Although they serve the same function, sea lions have
                                                             propel themselves forward   straight whiskers and seal whiskers are crimped.
                                                             using only their back flippers.

                                                             Land movement                       Front fl ippers

                                                             Seals wriggle forwards on their bellies when   Seals have short, furry flippers with claws on

                                                             moving around on land, whereas sea lions   each digit. The front flippers of a sea lion are   © Photoshot; Getty. Thinkstock

                                                             can walk upright with their flippers. This   long, hairless and without claws. Because
                                                             wriggling action helps seals move across ice   they are more efficient walkers, sea lions don’t


                                                             faster than a human could run.      need claws to help drag their bodies.
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