Like seals are “feather-footed or pinniped” (pinnipeds) marine mammals. Like seals are seals like seals. True seals lack outer ears and short limbs, which make them more water-friendly. Traveling on land was difficult because they couldn’t walk by rotating their rear flippers forward like otariids, and the large rear fins allowed seals to swim faster. When they go out to sea to feed like seals, they can travel up to 60 miles a day. Read below for more fun info as we explore 10 incredible facts about being a seal!
1. There are two types of seals
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Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) are widespread from Alaska to Mexico, and you’re likely to encounter colonies of them on any beach you visit. Although males of this species have longer trunks, they are overall the smaller of the two species. To see southern elephant seals, you have to go south of the equator (Mirounga leonina).
2. Males have huge, inflatable snouts
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The male seal-like has a huge snout, along with a sack-like appendage called a proboscis that makes him stand out from the females. Like seals extending their proboscis, they may make a variety of sounds, including snorts, grunts, and drum-like sounds that can be heard from great distances.
3. Males are big enough to crush vehicles
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A Southern-like seal named Homer is known for his penchant for turning parked vehicles into scrap metal. Homer is 14 feet long and weighs 4,500 pounds. In May of 2000, Homer suddenly surfaced from the depths and began destroying cars, boat trailers, trees, and anything that stood in his way.
This led to him appearing on news broadcasts around the world and brought him notoriety. To make matters worse, he walked over to a local restaurant and carelessly smashed the external transformer, knocking out all power. He’s got real stuff for cars, and when his two-tons brush past one-tons, it leaves a small mark. The best-case scenario is that he returns to the sub-Antarctic in search of a female mate.
4. The main role of the alpha male is breeding
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Scientists in the Falkland Islands conducted a two-year study focusing on a large colony. Harem masters have been observed to give birth to as many as 125 offspring, with dominant males giving birth to 90% of all observed pups. However, only 72% of male subordinates witnessed copulation.
The “harem master” is the dominant bull in the herd who attracts and retains a large number of females for himself. After that, until he is “overthrown” by the challenger, he has almost unrestricted access to their reproductive system.
5. Southern seals are huge
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Pinnipeds are a superorder that includes marine mammals such as sea lions, seals, and walruses. Unlike most other marine mammals, such as whales and dugongs, these animals can also survive on land. They come out of the water to do things like sleep, molt, marry and have babies. There are 33 known species of pinnipeds, the largest of which is the southern elephant seal. A giant can grow to a length of 20 feet and a weight of 8,800 pounds.
6. Males are much bigger than females like seals
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If you compare the female southern reef seal to a bull weighing up to 4.5 tons, the female appears small. Males are typically eight times as heavy and twice as long as females. The plight of the northern elephant seal is similar, but less dire. The largest males can reach about 13 feet in length and weigh about 4,500 pounds, while the largest females can reach about 3 feet in length and weigh about 3,000 pounds less.
7. They can dive to depths of a mile or more
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In 2012, marine researchers witnessed a northern woman dive an incredible 5,788 feet of water. Seals are masters of breath-holding and can swim for up to two hours without surfacing.
8. Rival males recognize each other by their voices
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The main function of the proboscis is to sound the alarm to scare away hostile males and prevent fights from breaking out. Over time, a hierarchy emerged, but it seemed like the bulls couldn’t rise very far before launching some threats of their own. Since 2009, researchers have been stationed near the beach in Ao Nuevo State Park. They replayed through loudspeakers recordings of alarm calls from people known to have been in the area.
9. They can go long without water
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Whenever a seal is on land, it may go days or even weeks without water. To avoid dehydration, their kidneys produce concentrated urine, which contains less water but more waste.
10. Do some voice acting like a seal
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In The Fellowship of the Ring, the scrawny orcs of Moria utter a terrifying battle cry. Sound creators took cues like the aquatic-themed calls of seal pups from a variety of sources.
The unique noise reverberates effectively; hence, it is called “a great projection phone”. Nothing like a seal can be found in the “deep drum” of the Moria mines. Pinnipeds make additional voices throughout the trilogy. The calls of the mighty Uruk orcs resemble those of sea lions, especially in situations of extreme distress, and those of tigers and leopards, respectively, suggesting that these predators provided inspiration for their savage attacks.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
