
!Seals!
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Seal
are mammals. They are large aquatic mammals distinguished by having all four
legs fully adapted into flippers. |
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There are three families
of seals:
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While
the limbs of seals have developed into flippers, the tail has disappeared.
That makes seals different from other sea mammals, such as whales, dugongs,
and manatees, which have lost their hind legs and use their powerful tails
for swimming. Seals have streamlined and flexible bodies, adaptations that
make them excellent and efficient swimmers. Sea lions are the fastest seals
and they can swim at top speeds of nearly 40 km/h (25 mph). These seals are
so flexible that they can nearly touch their rear flippers with their nose
when bending backward. |
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Baby
Harp Seal |