Pinnipeds are most commonly known as seals. Pinniped means ‘fins’ and it refers to marine mammals that have front and rear flippers. Some of the animals which are included in this group are seals, walruses, sea lions, fur seals, and bearded seal. These mammals are able to live in the oceans but can surface and get on to land for a long period of time.
There are three types of pinnipeds, these are phocids (earless seals), otariids (eared seals), and odobenids (walruses). This post will only discuss the eared seals (otariids) and earless seals (phocids). Below you will find information about these types of seals.
Eared Seals
Eared seal is the name given to marine mammals which are in the Otariidae family. They are called eared seals as their outer ear can be seen. Additionally, they can invert their rear flippers underneath their body which can help with movement on land. Their front flippers help them push forward in when they are in the water.
These seals feed and migrate to different locations when they are in the water, but they mate and rest on land. These seals usually reside in equatorial water such as the Pacific ocean and the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Otariids are carnivorous animals, meaning that they feed on things like fish and squid. Sea lions tend to feed closer to shore where they are able to feed on bigger fish, whereas, smaller seals spend much more time away from shore looking for food as it is easier.
Earless Seals
Earless seal is the name given to seals which are in the Phocidae family. They are given this name due to their outer ears not being visible. They swim side to side which needs the involvement of their lower bodies and rear flippers. Unlike eared seals, these seals are not able to invert their rear flippers underneath their bodies. For this reason, they have a more difficult time moving on land compared to eared seals.
Earless seals are much more efficient in the water compared to eared seals; this means that they can take much longer trips away from land in order to feed. These seals are more streamlined then Otariids, allowing them to swim more effectively over much longer distances. They are able to spend long amounts of time under water when they dive, this is because their anatomy allows them to do so.
These seals reside in oceans in both hemispheres in cold climates. Earless seals mate on land, as well as shed their fur and rest. They can come on to land in many different areas such as sandy beaches, floating ice, caves, cobble or gravel beaches, and more.
Seals in the Phocidae family mainly eat fish, squid, krill, and octopuses. Since they can stay away from shore for a long time, they are able to spend much more time foraging.
Earless seals communicate by slapping water and grunting. However, eared seals do not do this to communicate, as they bark.
