Facts about Seals

1. 09

   Elephant seals can reach depths of 5,000 feet and stay submerged for nearly two hours, making them the deepest-diving pinnipeds on Earth.

   SealsMay 14sharebiologymeasurementdiving
2. 08

   A seal's whiskers, called vibrissae, can detect vibrations as minute as one centimeter per second, enabling them to hunt fish in complete darkness by sensing water movement alone.

   SealsMay 14sharebiologysensoryhunting
3. 07

   In 1988, researchers discovered that grey seals possess a specialized vomeronasal organ allowing them to detect chemical signals from potential mates up to several kilometers away underwater.

   SealsMay 14sharebiologysensoryreproduction
4. 06

   During their annual molt, seals shed their entire outer layer of fur and skin over 4 to 6 weeks, requiring them to consume up to 50 percent more food than usual to fuel the energy-intensive process.

   SealsMay 14sharebiologyphysiologyseasonal
5. 05

   Seal flippers contain 32 bones each, similar to human arms, allowing them to rotate nearly 180 degrees for underwater maneuverability and climbing onto ice.

   SealsMay 14shareanatomyevolutionbiology
6. 04

   Hooded seals in the North Atlantic can fast for up to 14 days during breeding season without consuming any food or water.

   SealsMay 14sharebiologyendurancereproduction
7. 03

   Leopard seals in Antarctica consume up to 100 pounds of penguin and fish annually, making them apex predators in their icy ecosystem.

   SealsMay 14sharebiologypredationmeasurement
8. 02

   Harbor seals can hear underwater frequencies up to 180 kilohertz, which is roughly four times higher than human hearing capability.

   SealsMay 14sharebiologysensorymeasurement
9. 01

   The Weddell seal can dive deeper than 2,000 feet and hold its breath for over 80 minutes while hunting beneath Antarctic ice.

   SealsMay 13sharebiologymeasurementadaptation