Pinnipeds: Sea Lions, Seals, and Walruses

The following information can be compiled into a Student Research Book. Horizontal lines divide pages.

Pinnipedia – scientific name for “fin-footed”
Pinnipeds have 4 flippers – 2 in the front and 2 in the back.
Pinnipeds are mammals-

warm-blooded
give birth to their babies
nurse their young
breathe air
have hair

Pinnipeds are marine mammals – because they live in the marine environment and find their food at sea.

Pinnipeds need both land and sea. They need the sea for food and they need the land for resting, sitting in the sun, and for having babies.

Pinnipeds have a thick layer of fat called blubber to keep them warm in cold water.

Sea Lion Seal

Stellar Sea Lion

Click here to listen to a sea lion.

Sea Lion

Food: fish, squid, octopi, crabs, clams, lobsters

Predators: killer whales, sharks

Description:

·        small, slim ear flaps
·        front flippers are long and like wings
·        front flippers usually have no hair
·        front flippers do not have nails
·        hind flippers are large and like paddles
·        hind flippers have no hair
·        hind flippers are webbed
·        hind flippers have nails half way along middle three digits
·        can turn hind flippers to the front to move on land

Seals

Food: eel, squid, fish, octopus, lobster

Predators: killer whales, sharks, eagles (babies)

Description:

·        tiny ear holes, no ear flaps
·        front flippers are short and blunt
·        front flippers have hair
·        front flippers are claw-like with nails
·        hind flippers are short and paddle-like
·        hind flippers are covered with hair
·        hind flippers are webbed
·        hind flippers have nails
·        cannot turn hind flippers forward

Harbor Seals

Northern Elephant Seal

Harp Seal

Northern Fur Seal

Walrus

Food: clams, mussels, fish, snails, crabs, shrimp, squid (all on the bottom of the ocean)

Predators: killer whales, polar bears

Looking for a Walrus

	We’ve been looking for a walrus All the live long day. We’ve been looking for a walrus To come with us and play. Walruses have lots of whiskers And they’re very fat. Their food is on the ocean bottom And they suck it up like that!
	We’ve been looking for a walrus In the Arctic sea. We’ve been looking for a walrus So come and search with me. Walruses walk with four flippers Over ice and snow. When they want to go swimming, Into the water they go. Splash!