SEALS


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. Depending on the species of seal, there is quite a difference from the sizes. The largest ones can be about 16 feet long with the smallest of them being about four feet long. The terminology for seals includes males being called bulls, females being called cows, and the offspring being called pups.

Many researchers believe that there are many species that have died off in the past. However, there is still a great deal of research that has to be done in that field. One of the most common types of seals is the gray seal. There are more of them than any other, and their numbers continue to increase annually. However, there are many other species of seals that are in jeopardy of extinction.

There are many different reasons for such a decline in the number of seals found in the world. One that was quite significant occurred in 1988. A type of distemper virus quickly spread among them and that resulted in the death of 1/3 of all common seals residing within the North Sea. You will find that seals live from the coldest polar regions to the very warm climates around Hawaii.


Seals are highly intelligent animals and they have been used in a variety of conservation programs such as those at Sea World. However, it is very important to understand they are still wild animals. They have been known to bite and to attack humans that get too close to them. This is due to their natural instinct to protect themselves, their young, and their surroundings.

They look like very gentle creatures though with their brownish bodies and their small heads. They are mammals due to the fact that they offer milk to their young pups until they are old enough to feed on their own. They are warm blooded too which is why they depend on their layers of fat to keep them warm when necessary.


Some people take the stand that seals are lazy creatures. This is because they can often be seen enjoying the sun as they perch themselves on rocks. However, they are very busy when they are in the water which is most of the time. When they are on land for an increased period of time that means they are breeding, about to give bird, or molting. If you aren’t familiar with it, molting is the process of shedding their skin and this takes place for them once a year.

It can take up to six weeks for the molting period to be completed. They are often very noisy, irritable, and agitated during this period of time. Researchers once though this was due to it being painful for them but that isn’t the case. Instead it is now believed that it is because of the increased levels of hormones. The seals also don’t feed during this period of time but have enough blubber to survive on comfortably.

They are very curious too which is why they will follow boats to see what is going on aboard them. This is a great way for those people on these ships to get to see the seals up close in their natural environment.

There is plenty to learn about seals as a whole, but you can also find out a great deal concerning individual species. Take a look online, in books, and at animal conservation locations to find out all you can. You won’t be disappointed by the great information you come across regarding seals.


LEPORD SEAL FACTS


The Leopard Seal is the second largest of all seals out there. They are very strong animals and they tend to take over the areas where they reside. They are dark gray in color and can weigh up to 1,300 pounds. They can also be about 11 feet long. The females are smaller than the males but still quite large compared to other types of seals.

Distribution

You will find this type of seal living in the very cold regions of the Antarctic. Some of them though prefer the warmer climates. Leopard seals have been identified in Australia and New Zealand where it is much warmer than the Antarctic.

Behavior

The Leopard Seal is considered to be the most aggressive of all the species out there. They only live in small groups which is also quite different from other species of leopards. In fact, it isn’t uncommon to see them alone or only with one or two companions.

Diet /Feeding

The diet of the Leopard seal is similar to others in many ways. They love krill, fish, and other items found in the waters. However, they are also the only species of seal that will also consume other species. They also love to eat penguins. They are fast moving on land so they have no trouble catching their desired prey either on land or in the water.

They kill penguins and small seals by grabbing them with their feet. Then they will thrash them back and forth against the ground until they are dead. In the water they are able to swallow fish or to tear off large portions of big prey they find in there.

Reproduction

Due to the aggressive nature of the Leopard Seals, there is still plenty we don’t know about their reproduction. We don’t know how the mates select each other. It is believed there are series of grunts and calls though that are a way to appeal to the females by the males though.

When it is time to reproduce, the Leopard Seals will come together in larger groups. The females will carry a pup for nine months and then deliver it in a hole they have dug in the ice. It can take several months during the pregnancy for her to complete this digging process in preparation for the offspring.

The females do take very good care of their young pups until they are able to care for themselves. Other animals don’t bother the offspring but at times the males can show aggression towards them. Most of the time though they have disappeared to do their own thing after the mating has taken place.

Conservation

They only natural predators that the Leopard Seals have are some species of whales. Therefore they do as they please both on land and in the water. There aren’t very high numbers left of Leopard Seals which is why conservation efforts for them exist. There are approximately 250,000 of them.

In the wild it is reasonable for one to live approximately 26 years.

Human interaction

Humans that observe Leopard Seals known not to get too close to them due to their aggressive nature. Many of them have been hunted though for sport as well to get rid of them due to their behaviors. There have been some reports of attacks from Leopard Seals on humans while they are in the water. It is believed this is due to them feeling threatened rather than finding something that they are interested in eating. It is best not to be in the open waters where Leopard Seals are known to live.


HARP SEAL FACTS


The Harp Seal is one that has lots of white fur on it. They also can feature areas of light brown and even some black. You will notice when you observe a group of Harp Seals that they have very different patterns of color from each other. The young pups are even sometimes mistaken for baby polar bears when they are alone. Full grown, they can be about 5 ½ feet long and weigh up to 400 pounds.

Distribution

You will find the Harp Seals along the coasts of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. It due to the fact that they live in the coldest regions that they have plenty of thick fur as well as layers of blubber underneath it for insulation.

Diet /Feeding

This particular type of seal moves around often in search of food. Their patterns of movement have been recorded for decades. For the most part they are consistent unless there are environmental factors that require them to make some type of adaptations at that time. When food is in short supply in one area, the larger groups of Harp Seals may break up into several smaller ones. This way there is more of a chance for them to survive.

The diet for these types of seals consist of small fish and invertebrates. They aren’t very picky though and they will consume what ever they have to from the water in order to survive.

Reproduction

A Harp Seal is able to reproduce when it is between 5 and 7 years of age. Males end up courting the females on the ice but then move into the water for the actual act of reproduction to take place. As a result there is much that researchers don’t know about this part of it. What they do know is that it is possible for the embryo to be there but not attached to the uterus. It will attach to the uterus several months down the road.

The dominate males dictate who will end up mating with the available females. It is common for one male to mate with several females. The pups are born around February each year and a quick bond is made through smell for a pup and a mother. The milk she feeds on demand to her pup is 48% fat so the pup will grow very fast.

The nursing only takes place for 12 to 14 days though and then the pup is left to take care of itself. The mother leaves to fulfill her own need for food as she will have gone without during this span of time. It is very sad to watch these pups cry out as they are left alone. They become quiet in time though to conserve the food in their body. Instinctively they will remain on the shore living off their fat until they are about 25 days old.

Even then, they aren’t very good at swimming so they are very vulnerable. Many of them become prey to other animals including polar bears. A large percentage of them end up drowning in the water as they don’t have any one to show them how to swim and they may not be strong enough.

Conservation

In the past the number of Harp Seals have dropped very low due to severe hunting. Mainly this was taking place in Canada. However, with conservation efforts in place around the world they have been able to increase their numbers over the past two decades. There are still too many of them being killed regularly around Canada though where it remains legal to do so.

A healthy Harp Seal can easily live in the wild for up to 30 years. However, they are often injured due to fishing nets that they get tangled up in. Global warming continues to be a problem for them too. As the layers of ice melt, their natural environment is being taken away from them.


Harbor Seal


The Harbor Seal is fairly small when it is compared to the many other species of seals out there. They vary significantly in color and can be dark brown, tan, or various shades of gray. The nostrils on them are a V shape which is a characteristic you won’t find with any other species of seal out there.

The males and females are very comparable in size and look so it can be hard to distinguish them. They can be up to six feet long and almost 300 pounds in weight. Each Harbor Seal has a distinct pattern of spots on its body as well. No two of them are the same.

Distribution

This species of seal loves the temperature waters. You will find them residing along the Arctic coastlines. They tend to be well spread out though because they are also in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Baltic Sea. A small number of then has also been reported at the North Seas too.

They also like to spend their time on the rocks because it offers them a place to bask in the sun. It is also believed it helps them to stay out of the reach of various types of predators. The California coasts seem to be gaining more and more Harbor Seals than in the past. Another favorite place for them in the USA is the harbors of New York.

Diet /Feeding

The diet for the Harbor Seal mainly consists of small fish. Other food items the are commonly known to consume include Walleye, Cod, Herring, Salmon, Octopus, and Squid. Generally they will consume what happens to be the most plentiful in the area where reside.

Reproduction

The battle among males for the right to mate with the females is quite interesting. It will take place in the water and it can last for many hours. The females are only going to mate with the winners of such fights. There tends to be more females with the Harbor seals due to the brutal battles among the males. As a result these males that do win end up being able to successfully mate with a large number of the females.

The females will mate again soon after having their pup. However, they won’t immediately begin the process of a new pup growing. Instead what is called delayed implantation occurs so it is about 12 weeks before the embryo will attach itself to the uterus. Then it is about 8 ½ months until they pup is born.

The pups are very advanced when they are born, with a natural instinct to swim. They are one of the few species of seals where the pups go into the water just a couple of hours after they are born. Even though they are swimming, they don’t search for food at this time. Instead they get nutrition from the milk their mother offers for the first few months of life.

Conservation

Since it is illegal to hunt for the Harbor Seal they are well protected in their natural habitat. There are some exceptions in Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom though. In these locations some of them can be killed to control numbers if there is a threat to the fisheries that operate in those areas.

Approximately 500,000 of them are out there. Females tend to live longer than the males at a span of 30 to 35 years. The males live to be about 20 to 25 years. It seems that the numbers of them in locations such as Alaska have continued to drop but over all they are increasing.


GRAY SEAL FACTS


The Gray Seal is one that many people have seen in pictures. It is found along the North Atlantic Ocean on both sides of it. This is a medium sized seal when it is full grown. The males are almost twice as large as the females. They can be up to 10 feet long. And weigh up to 900 pounds.

There are some spots along the body but they tend to fade as they get older. They also have nostrils that are spread very far apart on their face. They can range in color from a medium brown to a very dark gray.

Distribution

You will find the Gray Seal has many locations out there that it calls home. They tend to prefer places where there aren’t very many people. They feed in cold current waters so that is a necessity. When they aren’t in the water they enjoy being on the sand and rocky terrain. Others can be found living in colder regions where they climb out of the water to relax on sheets of ice.

Diet /Feeding

The Gray Seal feeds on a variety of different types of fish that live in the water. They are great divers so if they can’t find enough food at the surface they will have no trouble going on a search for it. They will also consume herring and eels if they come across them in the water. Some of the larger ones have even been known to consume octopus and lobster.

They tend to consume around 10 pounds of food per day when they feed as adults. They don’t feed daily though so that amount could be every other day or every third day. During the mating season they can fast for weeks at a time by living on the blubber that they have built up.

Reproduction

The time of year when the pups are born depends on where they live. The females dig areas and find out of the way locations to prepare for the birth of their pup. The mothers feed them milk that is close to ½ fat. This allows them to grow rapidly as well as to build up their own layers of blubber very early on. They can’t enter the water for about a month when they get the waterproof fur. Until then they depend on their mother’s for the food supply they need. Weaning takes place at about 3 weeks of age.

It isn’t uncommon for the females to breed again immediately after they have weaned their pup. This is one reason why the females don’t seem to live as long as the males. It certainly takes a toll on their bodies to carry a pup for 10 months, nurse, and then to start all over with out any recovery period.

Many of the males are at least 10 years of age before they are able to successfully mate. That is due to the fierce competition among them. Only the strongest of the males are able to breed with the females.

Conservation

It appears that the number of Gray Seals out there is slowing increasing. This is due to the awareness and education programs that various conservation organizations have presented. However, they are still listed as an endangered species. They are presently protected in the USA under the Marine Protection Act in the UK under the Conservation of Seals ACT of 1970.

The Gray Seal does very well in captivity, and can live up to 40 years there. They are only able to successfully live in the wild for up to 30 years. One of their biggest threats are the huge nets out there in the water for fishermen to make a living.


Northern Elephant Seal


The Northern Elephant Seal is smaller than those from the Southern part of the world. They are very large and the males have what is similar to an elephant’s trunk on their face yet it is very short. The males are very large with a weight of up to 5,000 pounds. They can also reach up to 14 feet in length. The females are much smaller when it comes to weight with only about 1,400 pounds. They are shorter too at only 11 feet. These seals range in color from light gray to dark black.

Distribution

You will find that the Northern Elephant Seal has quite a geographical range that they cover. Some of them live where it is cold including Alaska while others prefer the warmer climate around Baja California. They are known to migrate from one area to the next too.

Diet /Feeding

When you look at the eyes of a Northern Elephant Seal, you will notice that they are quite large. They are also wide and very dark which works to their advantage when it comes time to find their prey. There are tons of different food sources in the water for these very large seals. They include squid, fish, octopus, and even small sharks.

They love to hunt for their prey at night and they can go to the depths of the oceans in order to find what they are looking for. They tend to eat much more as summer approaches to build up their fat reserves. As summer moves in they will molt so they have to stay on land for up to a month. During that period of time they will live off the fat on their bodies.

Reproduction

You will hear extremely deep and loud roaring sounds coming from the males when it is time to mate. The males are extremely competitive when it is time for mating. One male can earn the right to mate with as many as 50 females in the group. The males head off first to the mating grounds where they will battle each other before the females start to arrive.

Those males that are the most powerful will have a certain region that they cover. It is not known what makes some females stop in these areas of a bull while others move on to another location to find a different male that they are interested in. Research also shows that the majority of the pups are from the same males. More than half off all the males in a given group will never mate.

It takes 11 months from conception until the pups are born. Females occasionally have twins but if so one will be left to die. They nurse their one pup four the first month of life before they go in search of food for themselves. The pups will remain on the shore for two weeks living off of fat reserves. Then they will move into the water to hunt on their own.

Conservation

At one time there were less than 1,000 Northern Elephant Seals out there. That was in the 1970’s but now there are almost 100,000 of them. This increase shows that such conservation efforts really can work. There continue to be environmental problems though including global warming that threaten the Northern Elephant Seal.

Human interaction

The number of Northern Elephant Seals is very low due to being hunted by humans. Another common problem with them is that they are highly susceptible to disease and viruses. This tends to occur more often in captivity than in the wild though and it is believed to be due to conditions presented by human interactions.


Southern Elephant Seal


The Southern Elephant Seal is the largest of all seals in the world. The males can weigh up to four tons and the females up to one ton. The males are generally twice as long as the females. The males can be up to 20 feet in length. They are a dark brown to light gray in color just like elephants.

Their heads are much larger than any other type of seal which is a good match for their bodies. The males have what appears to be a trunk that protrudes from the front of their face, which is another reason why they have this particular name associated with them.

Distribution

These particular seals love the rocky island shores out there around the Antarctic. They are found in the various oceans around the world as well. There is approximately 650,000 of them out there. They love to spend most of their time in the water so they need to be in locations that have plenty of food for them as well.

Behavior

It isn’t uncommon to find hundreds and hundreds of these seals enjoying the company of each other. They can be found on land enjoying the sun as it shines down on them. They also like to slide along the rocks even though to onlookers it seems like they are struggling to do so. They definitely find it easier to get around in the water which is why they spend so much of their time in it.

They are known to make very deep and loud sounds that are similar to roars. These will increase by the males as mating season approaches. They make these sounds to gain the attention of the females and at the same time to warn other males that they want to stake a claim in that area.

Diet /Feeding

The main food sources for the Southern Elephant seal are squid and a variety of fish. If these food sources are scarce they may consume penguins that are around their natural habitat. They can dive into the water and not come back up for up to two hours. Research has shown this is possible because they can reduce their heart rate to only one beat per minute while they are in the water.

They have been recorded more than 3,000 feet below the surface in order to find the food they need to survive. A great deal about what we know of such behaviors in the water are the results of satellite data.

Reproduction

There are breeding grounds that the Southern Elephant Seal will move to in August and September. They males will become very aggressive with each other in order to win the right to mate with the females. They may fight each other with their trunks and with their teeth until one of them submits. It isn’t unusually for a dominate male to have up to 50 females that he will mate with in a given season.

The pups are born in the summer, generally only one per female. The milk they receive from their mother contains about 50% fat in it. This allows them to be weaned when they are about 3 weeks of age. They will gain three times their birth weight during that period of time.

Conservation

It is estimated that there are approximately 650,000 Southern Elephant seals left in the world. This is slightly more than just a few years ago which indicates that the current conservation efforts and awareness are helping. However, those numbers are still lower than a comfortable zone. As a result more efforts have been put in place to at least protect their breeding zones.


Weddell Seal


If you had to choose only one word to describe the Weddell Seal, it would like be that they are cute. This species gets plenty of attention due to the physical characteristics that it offers. They can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds. The females tend to be a bit larger than the males. They are a bluish gray in color and feature very long whiskers as well as small cute noses.

Distribution

Of all of the seals out there this one lives the furthest South. Many of them live in an area called McMurdo Sound which is almost 800 miles away from the South Pole.

Behavior

You will find the Weddell Seals in large groups on the icy shores. They spend about 80% of their time though in the icy cold waters around them. They may be hard to see because they will stay well below the surface of the ice. It is a myth that they don’t need to come to the surface to breath. What they do is find cracks in the ice where they can take in a couple of breaths.

They have been seen lying on their backs on the ice with their front flippers over the stomach. Their mouths are open and it appears that they are holding their stomach in laughter. Such humanistic characteristics are part of why these seals are so widely adored. They are very vocal, especially the males. It is believed this is to continually stake their claims on territory they call their own.

Diet /Feeding

The Weddell Seal isn’t a picky eater but it does have its favorites. Among them are krill, fish, and squid. They tend to relax during the day even when they are in the water, then hunt for food at night. They have very good eyesight. They also have great sensations in their whiskers that allow them to pick up vibrations around them.

They can stay under water for up to an hour while hunting for food. Research shows they have the ability to collapse their lungs while in the water so they don’t require as much air. They have sharp teeth but they tend to swallow their food whole until it is too big, then they rip it into manageable pieces.

Reproduction

The males fight for the right to reproduce with the females. The stronger, dominate males are able to choose the females they want to mate with. They will be with many during one mating season. The pups are born in either September or October. The mothers feed these pups milk that are 70% fat which allows them to grow very fast. They are approximately 60 pounds at birth and when they stop nursing at six weeks of age they can be about 200 pounds.

Conservation

Even though conservation groups keep a close eye on the Weddell Seal, they have decent numbers. There are about 800,000 of them out there right now. Older Weddell Seals often suffer due to wear on their teeth. They use them to scrape away at the layers of ice out there in their natural habitat. Some conservation efforts have included moving these older ones into captivity.

Human interaction

There is plenty of documentation of humans touching Weddell Seals because they are so calm. It is due to this fact as well as how appealing they are that they are often the types used for books, movies, and cartoons. People do need to be careful though approaching any Weddell Seal as they are still wild animals.

In the past Weddell seals have been hunted for their meat, oil, and their skins. Such events are deemed illegal in many areas but they still continue to take place by skilled hunters looking to make some money.


Hawaiian Monk Seal


You will find that the overall physical appearance of the Hawaiian Monk Seal makes it look much different from the other species of seals. They have a very light gray coloring to their bodies. The head and the flippers are a darker gray or brownish in color. Some of them feature silver coloring as they get older too.

Distribution

You will find that the Hawaiian Monk Seal lives along the waters of Hawaii. Viewing them is a common pastime of the many tourists and locals around the area. They are well respected by the people of Hawaii. The females are quite a bit larger than the males with this species of seals. Females average about 800 pounds with the males tipping the scales at about 600 pounds. Females are about 8 feet long with males slightly shorter around 7 feet.

Behavior

The fact that this species of seal prefers to live alone or with a few others is part of how it got the “monk” part of its name. They seem to be enjoying the sunny beaches just as much as the tourists. They are often found basking in the warm tropical sun during the daylight hours. Then they hunt for food at night.

They are amazing swimmers which allows them to move around very easily in the water. They also have great vision so they have no trouble at all finding the food they are interested in. They are very quiet types of seals unless it is breeding season. During that period of time they will gather and then afterwards go back to their solitary lifestyles.

Diet /Feeding

Along the coast of Hawaii there is quite a bit of selection when it comes to food for the Hawaiian Monk Seal. Some of their favorites include fish, lobster, eels, and even octopus. They generally don’t have too much trouble finding enough food unless there have been tropical storms that come along and upset the natural balance of things in the area.

Reproduction

The reproduction process is one that is extremely aggressive for all involved. First, the males are aggressive towards each other and fight to mate with the females. Then the males can be aggressive with the females that they wish to make with. Many of the older females have bite marks and other scars that are a result of the mating process.

A huge problem is that there are many more males than females with this type of seal. Many females don’t survive the mating process if too many males are pursuing here. Some of the very young female pups can also be attacked by the males even though they aren’t mature to mate yet if there aren’t enough females around to satisfy them.

Pups are approximately 40 pounds at birth and they can be up to 40 inches in length as well. The mothers won’t leave the pup for the first six weeks of life. This means they don’t feed and so they can lose several hundred pounds.

Conservation

The Hawaiian Monk Seal is currently endangered in spite of the conservation efforts out there. In fact, they are number one on the list of seals when it comes to them being in jeopardy of extinction. There are less than 1,200 of them remaining and that is very scary. As a result it is illegal to harm such an animal in any way.

On average, this type of seal can survive for about 25 years in the wild. In order to help them achieve that, Hawaii has been doing all it can to raise awareness about the needs of these seals. They even officially made it their state mammal in 2008. Many of the Hawaiian Monk Seals have been injured or killed due to the fishing nets out there.


Mediterranean Monk Seal


The males feature dark black hair while the females are dark brown. All of the Mediterranean Monk Seals have a watch patch on them. The size and shape of it is unique for each one of them. Researchers use these white patches to identify the individuals when they are observing them in the wild. They also feature two pairs of nipples that are retractable. No other seals in the world have this feature.

Distribution

True to their name, the Mediterranean Monk Seal is found in the Mediterranean Sea. They are also found around the Eastern portion of the Atlantic Ocean.

Behavior

These are very calm and mellow seals out there, and they tend to be loners even though they live in the same proximity. They are also very quiet, with the majority of their sounds being before they wish to mate with another. They live a very solitary existence that is quite routine.

Diet /Feeding

This particular type of seal hunted for food during the day and then sleeps and rests at night. They consume fish, mollusks, octopus, and squid. They are able to dive deep into the water too when they need to find more food to sustain them. However, most of the time they only go about 300 feet into the water.

With the number of them being so low, there tends to be more than enough of a food source for them to survive on. However, there are often fishermen in these same areas and so they can become competition. They swallow their food instead of chewing it and they move along the water very slowly looking for their prey.

Reproduction

Males and females of this species of seal are about to start reproducing around four years of age. There isn’t very much known about this process though and researchers continue to try to piece it all together. There are a few key elements that they have been able to identify though. For example this is one of the few seals that give birth in the water as most of them do so on land. They seek out deep caves in the water where they will have their pups.

It is also known that they reproduce all year long instead of during a particular mating season. While many pups are born each year, less than half of them survive the first three months of life. It is believed the many storms that occur in the natural environment for the Mediterranean Monk Seals is the main cause of their death.

It is also believed that these pups don’t have the best genetic materials anymore. This is due to limited selection when it comes to breeding. With so few of them left in the world they are too closely linked to each other.


Conservation

If the Mediterranean Monk Seal is going to survive, then very proactive conservation efforts have to be made. There are only about 450 of them left in the world and that means time is running out to increase their numbers. They are very high on the list of endangered animals at this point in time. With the right conditions these seals can live in the wild up to 25 years.

Human Interaction

Researchers believe that the Mediterranean Monk Seal is very shy and doesn’t like to be around humans. This could explain why they have moved from giving birth on land to doing so in the caves under the water. As people continue to move closer and closer into the natural habitat area of these seals it is going to require them to continue further adaptations of their current behaviors.


Antartic Fur Seal


The coloring of the Antarctic Fur Seals allow them to be easily identified. The males feature a very dark brown color. The females offer more of a grayish color as due to the young pups. The males can weight up to 480 pounds but the females are much smaller at about 200 pounds. Both can be about 6 feet in length.

They feature external ears which is noticeable because most of the species of seals don’t. You will also notice that they have a nose that is very short but very wide. They have long whiskers and they have waterproof fur on their bodies. They are more slender than other types of seals but they are also very strong.

Distribution

There is quite a diverse distribution out there when it comes to the Antarctic Fur Seals. They have been found in very cold areas as well as those that are very warm. Some have even been identified around Brazil. The fact that they are so spread out is really remarkable considering how low their numbers once were.

Behavior

While they do gather in large groups for the breeding process, most of them are very isolated. They tend to live alone both on land and in the water the rest of the time. The females are very good caregivers to their pups until it is time for them to go on their own. The Antarctic Fur Seals love to spend their time on land though so they can soak up the sunlight.

Diet /Feeding

The Antarctic Fur Seal can dive and remain under the water for up to 10 minutes at a time. They consume large amounts of krill, fish, and squid while in the water. They are also known to consume small birds while on land. Many of these types of seals will feed at night due to that being the best time to find what they are interested in. When they hunt for food really depends on the location where they live.

Reproduction

Both males and females are ready to mate when they are about four years old. These seals move towards the common breeding ground where more than 95% of the species gather for the event. This is found around the islands on the Antarctic Polar Front. The males arrive first and begin to battle each other as only the strongest will get the chance to mate with the females that are on their way.

What is interesting is that the females are already pregnant when they arrive at the breeding grounds. They have their pups within the first couple of days after arriving. About a week later they are ready to mate again. They will nurse for several days, leave to feed for several days, and then nurse again. While they are gone the pups are able to live off of the fat reserves in their body.

A high percentage of these pups don’t make it past their first year. They are favorite snacks of predators including Killer Whales and Leopard Seals. Others simply aren’t able to fend for themselves in the water and so they don’t get the nutrition that they need.

Conservation

There aren’t any conservation efforts in place for the Antarctic Fur Seal at this time. There are more than 4 million of them out there so that is good news. However, they were once driven to the brink of extinction in the 19th century. The numbers were able to increase after they were protected under the Antarctic Treaty. The males have a shorter life span of approximately 15 years. The females can live up to 25 years.


Galapagos Fur Seal


The Galapagos Fur Seal is medium in size compared with other species. They are a dark brown to light gray color. You can tell the males and females apart as the males are much larger.

Distribution

These fur seals are only found on the Galapagos Islands, which is where their name stems from. If you aren’t familiar with the location, it is a group of islands around Ecuador. They don’t migrate anywhere else, but they do move down the shore to the breeding area that has been established for them.

Behavior

You will find that the Galapagos Fur Seal is one species that spends more time on the land than any other. They still spend about 70% of their time in the water but compared to other seals this is much less than normal. They prefer to lay on the rocks than on the sandy areas. It is believed that these rocks help them to cool down their body temperature while on the land.

Research has shown that the Galapagos Fur Seal actually sweats if it gets to hot. It has to work very hard to cool its body temperature down. It is believed that the mothers teach this process to their pups at a very early age. This process is called Thermoregulation and it works by controlling the flow of blood to the flippers. More is sent to them when they are warm and it is pushed away when they are cold.

Diet /Feeding

Since these seals love to get as much sun as possible, they do their feeding at night after the sun goes down. They go in cycles though and some have been known to spend up to 70 hours at a time looking for food when necessary. The moon cycles seem to have a huge impact on their feeding habits as well. They tend to feed less during the full moon cycle.

It isn’t uncommon for them to spend up to six days in the water and then one full day on land. The males are extremely protective of their land territory though. They won’t leave it until they absolutely have to go in search of food. They tend to consume fish that are very close to the shore lines.

Reproduction

The males are extremely dominate over their area when it comes to reproduction. They can have a group of females from a couple to more than fifty. The males arrive at the breeding grounds first in order to take their place among the other males. Not all of them will get to mate, only the biggest and the strongest.

When the females arrive they will give birth to the pups they are already carrying. After only a couple of days they begin to mate again. The eggs aren’t immediately fertilized though. Instead what is known as delayed implantation occurs which means that it will take several months before the uterus attaches to it.

This species of seal spends more time with the pups than any other. This is because they nurse for a longer period of time. They will leave the pup to go feed themselves and then come back while many others end up staying with their pup as long as they can and then going to eat.

Conservation

There are currently about 40,000 remaining Galapagos Fur Seals out there. The number of them was severely reduced in the early 1980’s due to an El Nino. In the past there have been plenty of conservation efforts in place. Many of them involved eliminating the use of fishing nets in the areas where they live. That has helped to reduce accidental injury and death of this species of seal. The average life span of a Galapagos Fur Seal is about 20 years.


Northern Fur Seal


There are some features of the Northern Fur Seal that make them simple enough to tell apart from other types of seals. They have very short heads with a mouth that is curved in shape. They also feature a very small nose and very thick fur.

You will be able to differentiate the males from the females based on their size. The males are much larger than the females. They are twice the length and often three or four times the weight as the females. The males also have a neck that is much thicker than the females.

Distribution

There are several different locations where you will find the North Fur Seal living. They include The Northern portion of the Pacific Ocean, The Bering Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk. In some areas the habitat region of the Northern Fur Seal overlaps that of the Stellar Sea Lion. They are able to reside in harmony like that and can even be found living among each other instead of segregated.

Diet /Feeding

When it comes to food, the Northern Fur Seal isn’t very picky at all. They take advantage of what they find in the water around them. What they will have access to can depend on the location where they live and the time of year it is. Some of their selections include Anchovy, Herring, and Pollock.

While they are looking for food, they have to be careful not to become the prey. Some of their natural predators in the water are sharks and whales. On land they have to be careful of foxes. If they aren’t careful their pups can also be consumed by hungry Stellar Sea Lions in the area.

These seals don’t dive deep to find food so they know not to pass up what comes their way. Generally the current is able to bring plenty of food close to the shoreline for them to benefit from. When there is a lack of food they may move down the shoreline to a new area in order to continue having enough to consume.

Reproduction

The Northern Fur Seal has certain locations called nookeries where they will do their breeding activities. The males are the first to arrive there so that they can complete their territorial battles. Generally males less than 10 years old won’t be strong enough to win the right to mate.

The females come along soon after and they are ready to give birth to the pups they carry at that time. They will remain with their new pup for about 10 days and then go for their own food and return about a week later. The pups have milk that is very fat so they are able to live off of it until their mother returns. This process continues for about a month.

After that the female is going to be carrying a new embryo but one that won’t attach to the uterus for a couple of months. This way she will be ready to have her pup again when the next mating season rolls around.

More than half of all of the pups in this species of seals doesn’t make it. They are often left alone at a very young age so that their mother’s can search for food. This makes them very susceptible to the dangers of land animals and other problems.

Conservation

Concerns have been in place since the late 1970’s about the number of Northern Fur Seals out there. They are currently listed as being vulnerable which is a couple of steps on the list below being endangered. Many animal rights groups continue to strive to find ways to help increase the number of them out there.


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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 31.03.2011

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