Adaptations
Adaptation is the change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment. Naturally, have adapted to their environments.
Aquatic Life
The body of a seal is specifically structured for life in the water. a smooth, torpedo-shaped torso, and flippers that are flat, made for maneuvering in the water. They have four large swim fins instead of feet. In fact, the swim-fins scuba divers and backyard snorkelers use were modeled after the unique, compressed and web-toed feet of a seal.
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Skeleton & Physicalities
The rear limbs of seals are fused together and are permanently facing rearward making walking impossible. However, it is because of this that allows for a powerful fin.
The skulls of phocids nearly or completely lack postorbital processes and the alisphenoid canal, as shown on the figure on the left. The bullae are somewhat inflated. The upper incisors have simple, pointed crowns. The canines are long and pointed. Some species have cuts in their cheek teeth. In crab-eating seals, for example, the cheek teeth have complex cuts used for straining plankton.
Surviving the Cold
Seals that live in the icy region have adapted. They have layers of blubber on their bodies that allow them to survive in the cold temperatures. They will need to eat more to keep those layers of blubber on them. In addition, these seals are well equipped with strong, sharp claws on their front flippers that they dig breathing holes with.
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Warming Up
Seals love to soak up the sun, even those that live down in the cold regions. For this reason, seals spend most of their day on land, and then return to the water at night.
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Social Life
The social structure of phocids varies from species to species. Some only associate in small groups. However, the majority of the seal species live in very large social groups called colonies. They often sunbathe together in masses of hundreds. During mating season, seals take to the beach to mate and raise young in tightly packed gatherings of thousands.
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Reproduction & Nurturing
Some species are monogamous while others are polygamous, meaning that mating style varies through different species. There are species of seals that mate with more than one partner. Furthermore, in most species, the males do not contribute to the raising of young.
In some species, the mother fasts for a few weeks, doing nothing but nursing her newborn, then, after only 4 to 5 weeks, she leaves the pup for good, returning to the ocean to mate again.
Seals migrate between breeding grounds and feeding grounds, traveling between several hundred to two thousand miles a year. When females arrive at the breeding grounds, which are called rookeries, the males have already staked claims to prime areas, battling each other with loud roaring, charges and sometimes violent contests.