Why do seals have long whiskers?
Seals have highly sensitive whiskers that enable them to hunt effectively even in poor visual conditions. Their specially shaped whiskers can detect the disturbances left by other creatures moving through the water, even while they are moving themselves. But even without vision, it seems a seal can be successful.
What do seals use their flippers for?
In the water, the fore flippers are used for steering. The webbed hind flippers also have five bony digits. But the outside bones are longer and wider then the inside ones. Moving the hind flippers from side to side propels the Harbor seal through the water.
Why do seals leap out of the water?
The behavior that led to the collision is known as seal “porpoising,” in which they jump in and out of the water while moving at high speeds. Curious and playful by nature, the seals were likely trying to get a better look at the kayakers moving through their natural surroundings.
Why do seals have black eyes?
Their eyes are specially adapted for sight in dark and murky water. Eyes contain a high number of rod cells that specialize for black, white and grey pigments and are sensitive to low light levels. When a seal is out of the water, mucous surrounding the eyes gives them a wet, ‘tear-rimmed’ look.
How do seals sleep?
Sleep. Harbor seals sleep on land or in the water. In the water they sleep at the surface and often assume a posture known as bottling – their entire bodies remain submerged with just their heads exposed. This enables them to breathe when necessary.
Why does a seal have streamlined body shape?
Why does a seal have streamlined body shape? It is to help reduce water resistance and friction between the water and the seal,allowing it to swim faster to escape from its predator or to catch its prey. Q: Why does a seal have streamlined body shape?
What kind of body does a harbor seal have?
Like many marine animals, Harbor seals have streamlined fusiform bodies, tapered at both ends. Harbor seals have spotty coats. The dorsal side has more spots then the ventral side. To move around, the Harbor seal depends on its flippers.
How does a diving seal differ from a human?
Seals, on the other hand, have evolved a way to avoid decompression altogether. A diving seal uses oxygen with great efficiency. Seals have about twice as much blood per unit of volume as humans (in seals, blood takes up 12% of the total body weight; in humans, it takes up 7%).
Why are seals more efficient transporters of oxygen than humans?
Seals have about twice as much blood per unit of volume as humans (in seals, blood takes up 12% of the total body weight; in humans, it takes up 7%). Blood carries oxygen from the lungs to other body tissues, so the high volume of blood in a seal makes it an efficient transporter of oxygen.