Where Do Seals Live?
Pinnipeds live in all the world's oceans! They're found from tropical waters to icy Arctic and Antarctic seas. Most live in coastal areas, but some venture far offshore.
Many seals prefer cold waters! Arctic seals like ringed, bearded, and harp seals live among sea ice. Weddell seals live in Antarctica - farther south than any other mammal! Cold-water seals have extra-thick blubber for insulation.
Some seals live in warm climates! Hawaiian monk seals live in tropical Pacific waters. California sea lions thrive along the Pacific coast. Galápagos fur seals live near the equator! These seals have thinner blubber and need shade to cool down.
Pinnipeds need land for breeding! They come ashore on beaches, rocky shores, or ice floes to give birth and raise pups. Some colonies have thousands of seals packed together! These breeding areas are called rookeries or haulouts.
Walruses live in Arctic waters! They haul out on sea ice or rocky beaches in massive groups - sometimes 1,000+ walruses together! Males use their tusks to pull themselves onto ice (the name "walrus" means "tooth walker"). Walruses rarely venture far from coastlines.
Elephant seals dive incredibly deep! They can dive over 5,000 feet down - deeper than any other seal! They spend 90% of their lives at sea, coming to land only to breed and molt. Northern elephant seals migrate between California beaches and feeding areas near Alaska.
Some seals live in freshwater! Lake Baikal in Russia has the only freshwater seal - the Baikal seal. These seals are landlocked and never see the ocean! A few other seal species occasionally venture into rivers.
Leopard seals are Antarctic predators! They live on pack ice and hunt penguins, other seals, and fish. Leopard seals are solitary and patrol ice edges waiting for prey. They're among the most fearsome predators in Antarctica!
What Do Seals Eat?
All pinnipeds are carnivores! They eat fish, squid, octopus, shellfish, and some hunt other marine mammals.
Most seals eat fish:
- Salmon, herring, mackerel, cod
- Each seal can eat 5-10% of body weight daily
- Harbor seals eat 15-20 pounds of fish per day
- They swallow small fish whole underwater
- Larger fish are brought to surface and torn apart
Many also eat squid and octopus:
- Squid are a favorite food for many species
- Elephant seals eat mostly squid in deep water
- Octopus are hunted by some coastal seals
Some eat shellfish:
- Walruses eat clams, mussels, snails, and worms
- They use sensitive whiskers to find shellfish buried in seafloor mud
- Walruses suck meat out of shells (don't eat shells)
- One walrus can eat 3,000-6,000 clams in one feeding!
A few hunt other animals:
- Leopard seals hunt penguins, other seals, and fish
- They wait near penguin colonies and grab penguins entering water
- Large male leopard seals can eat crabeater seal pups
- Some walruses occasionally eat seabirds or seals
Seals are excellent hunters! They use sensitive whiskers to detect fish movements in dark or murky water. Their large eyes see well in dim light. Some seals dive over 1,000 feet deep to catch fish. They can hold their breath for 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on species!
Elephant seals are deep-diving champions! They routinely dive 1,000-5,000 feet down to hunt deep-sea squid and fish. They can hold their breath for up to 2 hours! They spend very little time at the surface - just a few minutes to breathe before diving again.
Sea lions are cooperative hunters! California sea lions sometimes hunt in groups, herding fish into tight balls. Then individuals take turns rushing through to catch fish. Teamwork helps them catch more food!
Seals don't chew food! They have sharp teeth for grabbing prey but swallow fish whole or tear them into chunks. Their powerful digestive systems break down bones, scales, and all. Some seals swallow stones (gastroliths) which might help digestion or diving.