Page 12 - World of Animals - Issue #41

SEALS

MASTERS OF THE OCEANS

Sluggish on land but sleek in the water, these hefty

mammals make use of their marine habitats to feed,
migrate and shelter

Words Katy Sheen

We may think of seals as hefty, lumbering Like sea lions, fur seals and walruses,
animals on land or ice, but we rarely see ‘true’ seals are pinnipeds, which means

them in their element. Once they take ‘flipper-footed’. True seals are the only
to the water, seals are incredibly elegant members of this group to have ear holes

and efficient swimmers, diving to great rather than external ear flaps, and have

depths and for prolonged periods in order short front flippers that make them flop

to catch prey or shelter from predators. along quite slowly on land, rather than
In fact, many species spend most of their walk. Out at sea, though, the true seals’

lives alone out at sea, often covering great rear flippers act like a fish’s tail, moving
distances, and only gathering on land once back and forth to propel them gracefully
a year to breed. through the water.

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