Seals

Don’t know much about seals? Even if you do, you’ve come to the right place! There’s much to love about seals and they can all be admired in the wild without seeing them in captivity. Keep on reading below and learn more about these fun and exciting animals.

1. Seals sleep on land and in the water

Seals typically sleep on land when they have pups or are searching for warmth. When sleeping in the water, seals are usually in a position called “bottling” where their bodies (except for their snout) remain completely underwater.

2. Seals know how to hold their breath

Dives vary per species. Harbor seals can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes. Elephant seals can hold their breath for up to 2 hours! How can they do it? Scientists found that seals and other marine mammals pack  without “clogging them up.”

3. Seals are also known as pinnipeds

Seals and sea lions belong to a group of marine mammals called “pinnipeds.” In Latin, “pinniped” means “fin-” or “flipper-footed.” There are currently 33 different species of seals. The largest seal species is the Southern elephant seal, and the smallest is the ringed seal.