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Seals Facts & Worksheets

Seals, also known as pinnipeds or the clowns of aquatic animals, are a large and diversified group of carnivorous, fin-footed, semiaquatic marine animals.

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Seals, also known as pinnipeds or the clowns of aquatic animals, are a large and diversified group of carnivorous, fin-footed, semiaquatic marine animals.

See the fact file below for more information on Seals, or you can download our 29-page Seals worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

OVERVIEW

  • Seals represent a subset of mammals known as marine mammals. They have all the characteristics of a mammal, such as having fur and warm blood; they are vertebrates; and—most importantly—their mothers nourish their young with milk produced by their mammary glands.
  • These mammals spend most of their lives in or close to water, particularly the ocean, searching for food, but they must leave the water to give birth, mate, and shed their fur.
  • This characteristic sets them apart from aquatic animals like whales, dolphins, and porpoises, who face a high chance of peril if they end themselves on land.

PHYSICAL FEATURES

  • Only the otariids have external ears. The phocids and walruses, on the other hand, have only ear holes and no outer ear flaps.
  • They have fewer teeth than most carnivores, particularly incisors, and molars, but pointed, sharp canines. 
  • All seals have fin-shaped feet, which is why they are named pinnipeds, which means “fin-footed” in Latin.
  • Except for crabeaters and leopard seals, males are often larger than females. They have sleek and spindly bodies, rounded heads, short snouts, and short tails. The majority of them have dense fur and whiskers.
  • Depending on the species, a seal’s coat can be any color—from white to gray to brownish black—with either dark or light markings.
  • Although seals lack fur all over their bodies, they have a lot of delicate whiskers that enable them to hunt effectively.
  • Seals are kept warm by thick coats of fat, sometimes known as blubber, that act as insulation, a food store, and contribute to buoyancy.
  • All seals have four flippers (fore and hind flippers), which are fin-like appendages that assist them in moving on land and at sea. Eared seals have longer flippers than earless seals, and their fur is more visible, especially in sea lions.
  • Seals weigh between 99 and 7100 pounds (45 and 3200 kilograms) and range in length from 3 to 5 meters.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

  • The seals are a suborder of the Carnivora that includes the Phocidae (earless or “true” seals), the Otariidae (eared seals, including fur seals and sea lions), and the Odobenidae (walrus), which can be found in aquatic environments.
  • There are 34 species of living pinnipeds, while more than 50 extinct species have been documented using fossil evidence.
  • Most pinnipeds fall into one of three categories or families. First, the Phocidae, or true seals, lack external ears and must drag themselves on land or ice.
  • Second, the Otariidae, which have external ears and can move around on their flippers, such as sea lions and fur seals.
  • Lastly is the Odobenidae, whose only living members are walruses. They don’t have hair all over their bodies but have numerous, delicate whiskers, just like seals.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

  • Seals are worldwide; however, they are most plentiful in the polar seas. Some species prefer the open ocean, while others prefer coastal waters or spend time on islands, coastlines, or ice floes.
  • Seals prefer the cold seawater found mainly in the Arctic and Antarctic. The Antarctic ice is home to four ice-specialized species: leopard seals, Ross seals, Weddell seals, and Crabeater seals.
  • The Arctic region is home to harbor, ringed, ribbon spotted, and bearded seals, or what they call “ice seals,” as well as northern fur seals and Steller sea lions.
  • Phoca true seals are the most numerous in the Northern Hemisphere, while some species have also been discovered in inland lakes in Finland, Russia, and Siberia.
  • Monk seals, which live in tropical waters, and the Baikal seal, which lives only in the freshwater lake Baikal, are the outliers.
  • Weddell seals are the mammal with the broadest range of permanent residence on the Australian continent.

DIET AND NUTRITION

  • In their quest for food, seals will dive up to 900 meters. They rely on maritime areas for survival, while some enter estuaries and rivers. Some seals can hold their breath for up to 2 hours underwater.
  • All seals are carnivores, devouring fish, shellfish, squid, and other marine life. Among all the pinnipeds, the leopard seal is perhaps the most carnivorous and predatory, consuming a range of prey, including krill, penguins, and other seals.
  • Some pinnipeds have more distinct tastes, such as the crabeater seal, which, despite its name, is a filter feeder that survives on krill. 
  • The food that harbors seals eats is not chewed. Either whole or in pieces, they ingest their meal. Crustaceans and shells are broken apart by their back teeth.
  • On the other hand, most seals feed on crustaceans, fish, squid, mollusks, krill, mackerel, octopi, salmon, and seabirds.
  • Feeding techniques used by pinnipeds include piercing feeding, grip and tear feeding, suction feeding, and filter feeding. They have been observed using different tactics depending on the availability of prey.

BEHAVIOR

  • The real seals propel themselves on land by writhing on their bellies or pulling themselves forward with their front limbs because their hind flippers cannot be pulled forward.
  • On the other hand, eared seals propel themselves primarily through the rowing motion of their front flippers. They can move on land with all four limbs because they can turn their hind flippers forward.
  • Seals, being able to memorize and repeat patterns for up to 18 seconds, are extremely intelligent mammals. They are among the few species of animals that show rhythmic entrainment or a response to musical rhythms.
  • Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) spend most of their time deep in the ocean. Between dives, they only surface for a short time. It is also known as the largest of the Northern Hemisphere’s “true” seals.
  • Various species can dive to depths of 150–250 meters and stay underwater for 20–30 minutes, but the Weddell seal can dive for up to 73 minutes and 600 meters.

REPRODUCTION AND LIFESPAN

  • Breeding and rearing of seal pups occur on land or ice. Eared seals typically have a standardized breeding process, while phocid breeding practices are more diverse.
  • The entire development process and the pup’s birth might take up to nine months. The female will return to the breeding grounds just before giving birth to the pup.
  • Female seals live longer than male seals. In the wild, female seals can live for up to 30 years, but male seals seldom live past the age of 25.
  • In addition to mating, giving birth, feeding, and molting, they frequently travel to land to avoid predators like whales and sharks.

THREATS

  • Due to careless hunting, global warming, and pollution, one out of every five pinniped species is in danger of extinction. 
  • Some pinnipeds become entangled in nets designed to capture fish or other aquatic animals.
  • Moreover, sea ice melts because of global warming, making it more difficult for them to locate a location to haul out.
  • The population and number of numerous seals have declined due to human greed. Millions of seals were slaughtered in the past for their meat, blubber, and fur.
  • Several species have become extinct over the last century, including the Caribbean monk seal and the Japanese sea lion.
  • Ringed seals excavate caves in the snow and breach the ice to get access to the ocean. If the snow melts earlier than usual, the animals will be more vulnerable to polar bear predation.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS

  • The Crabeater Seal has the largest population of any seal species. They have teeth with additional extensions that allow them to gulp in seawater and filter out krill.
  • International Seal Day is observed on March 22. It is a day set aside to increase global awareness of seal conservation.
  • Milk from seals is thought to be the richest milk. For instance, the hooded seals’ milk is so rich in fat that the newborn only needs to be breastfed for two weeks before becoming independent.
  • Seals are regarded as being most closely related to bears and the animal group that includes weasels and otters, as well as skunks, raccoons, and red pandas.

Seals Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Seals across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Seals. Seals, also known as pinnipeds or the aquatic animals’ clowns, are a large and diversified group of carnivorous, fin-footed, semiaquatic marine animals.

Seals Worksheets
Seals Worksheets
Seals Worksheets

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Seals Facts 
  2. Seal’s Profile
  3. Who’s A Mammal?
  4. Guess Who I Am
  5. Spot The Difference
  6. My Home
  7. Let’s Dive In!
  8. Truth Reveals
  9. Info-mazing!
  10. SEALed with Love
  11. Call For Action

Frequently Asked Questions

What are seals?

Seals are a type of marine mammal that are closely related to sea lions and walruses. They have streamlined bodies, flippers, and are well adapted to life in the water.

Where do seals live?

Seals are found in all the world’s oceans, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. They inhabit a variety of environments, including rocky shores, sandy beaches, and ice floes.

What do seals eat?

Seals are carnivores and feed primarily on fish, squid, and crustaceans. Some species also eat seals and other marine mammals.

How do seals protect themselves from predators?

Seals are able to protect themselves from predators through a variety of methods. Some species, such as the elephant seal, are able to inflate their bodies to make themselves appear larger and more intimidating. Others, like the leopard seal, have sharp teeth and are able to hunt and defend themselves effectively.

What is the conservation status of seals?

Many seal populations around the world are currently threatened or endangered due to habitat loss, overfishing, pollution, and hunting. Several species, including the Hawaiian monk seal and Mediterranean monk seal, are considered critically endangered. Efforts are being made to protect and conserve seal populations through various conservation measures, such as establishing protected areas and limiting hunting and fishing.

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Link will appear as Seals Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 9, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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