Seals are fin-footed and semiaquatic marine mammalian creatures. They are divided into two different classes: the Phocidae, the earless or “true” seals, and the other is Otariidae, the eared seals. There are more than 34 species and, 48 subspecies of seal exist worldwide. The largest species is known as the southern elephant seal, which can rise to around 13 feet in length and more than two tons in weight. The smallest species of the seal is the Galapagos fur seal, which can grow up to around 4 feet long and weigh about 85 pounds. The seal has many interesting facts besides it lives in water.
Mostly seals are found in water, mainly in Antarctica and Arctic sites but, they exist in some parts of tropical areas as well. One of the interesting about a seal is that it can live up to 15-40 years and, it also depends upon sex, species, and living situations. Harbor seal lives half of their time in the water and the other half time on land. Even it can sleep in water for around half an hour. It can also dive to depths up to 650 feet.
10: Diet of seal
The diet of seals has depended upon their species, but mostly they eat mainly fish and squid. Mostly they find their prey by detecting its vibration using their whiskers also. They mostly like to eat fish, while most of the species eat squid, mollusks, crustaceans, marine worms, sea birds, and other seals. An interesting fact is that seals, eat mostly fish, the seal has specialization in oil-bearing species like eels, herrings, and anchovies because they swim in shallows in the sea and are easy to catch, and they are also a good source of energy.
09: Physical characteristics of the seal
Almost all seals share the same physical characteristics. They all have streamlined bodies and four flippers for moving in the water. Their bodies are covered with soft fur, and underneath in skin, they have a layer of blubber that assists and insulates them from a cold environment. Even though, seals live in cold temperatures, already have more blubber than those that live in warmer temperatures, even within the same species of seal.
08: Social groups
Most species of seal species like to live in large social groups called colonies. An interesting fact is that they also come together for taking sunbathe in masses of hundreds of seals, and go to the beach to mate and raise young in tightly packed gatherings of thousands.
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07: Hunting of prey
Seals may be hunted alone or in groups. They have a specially structured body that lets them hunt for food in the water effectively. Their fins assist them to move very rapidly through the water, and they can also dive deep into the ocean easily. Seals also have whiskers that are highly sensitive to movements and vibrations for detecting prey. So, in this way, their whiskers made them more effective while hunting during the day or night.
06: Sleeping pattern of sleep
Seals can easily sleep both in the water and on land. One of the most interesting facts about seals is that researchers have recorded them sleeping for minutes at a time while slowly drifting downward in a belly-up orientation. Like other marine mammals, seals sleep in water but, half of their brain is awake so that they can detect the danger and escape from predators. But when they are asleep on land, both sides of their brain remain in sleeping mode. This one fact includes interesting facts about seal.
05: Gestation period of the seal
During the gestation period, mothers carry their young offspring for around 12 months. But you know that most species of seal, give birth in the spring and summer months. Naturally, single pups are born but, twins are also born but uncommon and have high mortality rates as well.
04: The hearing ability of the seal
The hearing ability of the seal is also very marvelous. It’s an interesting fact that seals can hear very well both above and below in the water. They can hear high-pitched sounds better than the range of human hearing.
03: How does a mother seal find her pup?
Seal mothers and pups usually stay close to each other on the shoreline and are not separated while nursing. But mothers have to leave their pups onshore to feed. In this way, seal mothers and pups can stay in touch through sound. One of the interesting facts is that the harbor seal pup makes idiosyncratic calls that can be heard for up to one kilometer. When they come in close contact with mothers and pups, they can identify each other by scent.
There are some specific glands in the skin of their flippers and around their muzzles that help them recognize scent. If you see a harbor seal pup onshore, observe it from a distance and do not come close to it as its mother may be present offshore. Naturally, seal pups attract moving objects that are bigger than they are. So, their habit assists them to stay near their mother, but can also make a pup follow things that it shouldn’t.
02: Blood capacity of seal
One of the interesting facts about a seal is that has more blood in its body than other mammalian creatures. Their blood cells keep the oxygen level maintained, assisting them longer in dive than other animals.
01: Unique quality of the seal
You know a seal can hold its breath for around two hours and, it has been recorded in the animal world. It is one of the interesting and unique facts about the seal.
