Seals, Sea Lions, and Walrus

• Members of the order Pinnipedia are nearly exclusively marine

• Pinnipeds include:– Seals– Sea lions and

fur seals– Walruses

Seals, Sea Lions, and Walrus

• Pinnipeds (“fin-footed”) evolved from a terrestrial carnivore

• They are predators, feeding mainly on fish and squid

• Streamlined bodies for swimming• Thick layer of fat, or blubber for

insulation, food reserves, and buoyancy

Sea lions and fur seals vs. Seals

Sea lions and fur seals (Otariidae)

Seals (Phocidae)

Seals• Seals (earless pinnipeds; family Phocidae)

have 19 representative species– Rear flippers cannot be moved forward– No external ear flap– Claws (and fur) on flippers– Short, robust neck

Photograph is property of the Riverhead Foundation

Sea lions and fur seals• Sea lions and fur seals (eared pinnipeds;

family Otariidae) have 15 representative species– Rotatable hind flippers– External ear flap– Long, flexible neck– No fur or claws on flippers

Seals Found in Long Island waters

Harbor Seal Harp Seal

Gray Seal

Hooded Seal

Ringed SealAll photographs are property of the Riverhead Foundation

Sea Lions found in Long Island waters

There are NO sea lions in the Atlantic Ocean, and therefore no sea lions on Long Island

(except at local aquariums)

http://www.atlantismarineworld.com/exhibit-outdoor-sealion.html

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Walrus

• Walrus (family Odobenidae) are large pinnipeds with a distinctive pair of tusks– Both male and female have tusks; can reach 1

meter in length!– Used for defense, and anchoring onto ice

• Strictly Arctic!• Benthic-feeder; feeds

primarily on clams