Seals that you need to know

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Seals are amazing marine mammals and have many adaptations that allow them to live in the harsh marine environment. They belong to the families Otariidae and Phocidae, which include various species distributed throughout the world, from the Arctic to the Antarctic.

Seals are divided into two main groups: outer-eared seals (Otariidae) and inner-eared seals (Phocidae). The main difference between the two lies in the structure of their ears. Outer-eared seals have prominent external ears, similar to the ears of land mammals, while inner-eared seals have ears that are not visible externally.

Seals have thick body fur that they use to maintain their body temperature in cold water. Their feathers are very important because they help reduce friction and allow them to move quickly through the water. Additionally, the fur provides additional protection from harsh weather and predators.

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The seal's diet consists mainly of fish, squid, shellfish, and some species even eat penguins or other small seals. They are skilled hunters in the water and can dive for long periods of time to find their prey. Their diving abilities are extraordinary, with some species able to dive to more than 200 meters below the sea surface and survive for more than 20 minutes underwater.

The social behavior of seals varies between species, but many of them live in large groups called colonies. These colonies usually consist of various family groups bound by complex social relationships. In the mating season, males typically compete for the right to mate with females, often through violent physical or vocal combat.

Unfortunately, several seal species currently face serious threats from human activities, such as illegal hunting, climate change and marine pollution. Conservation efforts are important to protect their habitat and reduce the threats they face.

Overall, seals are a remarkable example of animal adaptation to the demanding marine environment, with unique traits that make them interesting to study and protect.