© Atlanticpost
PT-196789 sent by "geminiscp"
"The harbor
(or harbour) seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as the common seal, is a true
seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern
Hemisphere. They are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans, as well as those of the Baltic and North Seas, making them the
most widely distributed of the pinnipeds (walruses, eared seals, and true
seals).
Common
seals are brown, tan, or gray, with distinctive V-shaped nostrils. An adult can
attain a length of 1.85 meters (6.1 ft) and a mass of 132 kilograms (290 lb).
Females outlive males (30–35 years versus 20–25 years). Common seals stick to
familiar resting spots or haulout sites, generally rocky areas (although ice,
sand and mud may also be used) where they are protected from adverse weather
conditions and predation, near a foraging area. Males may fight over mates
underwater and on land. Females are believed[according to whom?] to mate with
the strongest males and generally bear a single pup, which they care for alone.
Pups are able to swim and dive within hours of birth, and they develop quickly
on their mothers' fat-rich milk. A fatty tissue layer called blubber is present
under their skins and helps to maintain body temperature.
Their
global population is 5-6 million, but subspecies in certain habitats are
threatened. Seal hunting or sealing, once a common practice, is now illegal in
many nations within the animal's range." In: Wikipedia
No comments:
Post a Comment