Seals

A seal, or pinniped, is a large carnivorous marine mammal of the order Phodicae. Some animals that are called seals, such as the fur seals, are actually more closely related to sea lions, and are classified as Otariidae.

The harp seal has a long, flat head and small, angular flippers. A newborn has a white coat which is shed at about three to four weeks old.SeaWorld.org: Animal Bytes - Harp Seal Adult males are silver gray color with black heads, while females are more pale in color.National Geographic: Harp Seal

Male elephant seals have a long face that resembles the trunk of an elephant. They were hunted for their oil and their numbers were once drastically reduced, but populations have since recovered.National Geographic: Elephant Seal Profile

Ringed seals are a the most common type of seal found in the Arctic. The name refers to the light colored circular patches appearing on this seal's back.National Geographic: Ringed Seal Ringed seals are found in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, and can be seen as far south as the Aleutian Islands during the winter.Alaska Department Of Fish & Game: Ringed Seal

The Weddell seal, named for the 1820's explorer Captain James Weddell, lives farther south than any other seal. It spends much of its life below ice in Antarctica.National Geographic: Weddell Seal SeaWorld.org: Animal Bytes - Weddell Seal

The leopard seal, sometimes called a sea leopard, is a marine mammal named for its spotted coat.National Geographic: Leopard Seal Usually found in Antarctica, the leopard seal can also be found along the coasts of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and South America.Animal Diversity Web: Leopard Seal The population of the leopard seal is estimated to be between 220,000 and 440,000 worldwide.Seal Conservation Society: Leopard Seal

• Amazon.com: A Harbor Seal Pup Grows Up

• Amazon.com: Endangered Monk Seals

• Barnes & Noble: Seals

• Big Stuffed Animals: 58" Jumbo White Seal

• Animal World: Harp Seal Gifts

• Kritters in the mailbox: Seal Stuffed Animals

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