seals.txt (1282B)
1 Pinnipeds [2] are the seals and their relatives, a group of semi-aquatic marine 2 mammals. The Pinnipedia is in the Order Carnivora. There are three seal 3 families: Odobenidae (walruses), Otariidae (eared seals, including sea lions 4 and fur seals), and Phocidae (true seals).[3] 5 6 Seals are sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped. Their bodies are well adapted to the 7 aquatic habitat where they spend most of their lives. Pinnipeds have flippers 8 for hands, big bulky bodies, doggish faces, and big eyes. Unlike cetaceans, 9 pinnipeds have their noses on their faces, and each nostril of the nose closes 10 when the pinniped goes underwater. Like cetaceans, pinnipeds have a thick layer 11 of blubber (fat) just under their skin: this blubber keeps them warm in cold 12 waters and keeps them fed during times when food is not easily found. When they 13 cannot find food, they live off the fat in the blubber. 14 15 Pinnipeds are carnivorous. This means they eat only meat (such as fish or 16 squid) and not plants. However, almost all pinnipeds can be eaten by polar 17 bears, sharks and killer whales. 18 19 Seals are often trained in zoos or aquariums to put on shows. However, in 20 Sweden, it is illegal to train a seal to balance a ball on its nose.[4] 21 22 From [Pinniped Wikipedia](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinniped)