latin: Phocidae

Seals do not have an ear that extends from the skull, but they can still hear well.  Seals propel themselves through the water with their rear flippers. Their front flippers are used for steering.  The front flippers of seals are short with sharp claws. 

Seals cannot use their rear flippers to walk on land or ice and most appear awkward when moving on these surfaces.  Seals have a torpedo like shape in the water and use their rear flippers to move rapidly to catch prey and escape predators. 

Where do most seals live?

Most of the world's populations of seals live close to Antarctica (Antarctic ice seals) and the Arctic Circle (Arctic ice seals), the remaining seals live throughout the oceans of the world.  One seal, the Baikal seal, lives only in Lake Baikal, in the interior of Russia. 

Family: Mammel

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nmml.afsc.noaa.gov/education/Pinnipeds/seals.htm

Page content by: Marianna