Students use observation skills to determine taxonomic differences between seals and sea lions. They have external ears, hind flippers they can turn forward under the body and walk on and no fur on the under side of their flippers. 'The leopard seal gets into the shallow bay just before low tide and pretends to be a rock, placing its head in the water,' said Mr Nachoum, 63, who is a keen observer of the muscular predators. When comparing a sea lion vs. seal you can spot the difference a few ways, one of which is the lack or presence of an ear. 1145 17th Street NW Start learning with a free trial at https://skl.sh/tierzoo7Check out Mike's video here! Sea lions are part of the family Otariidae, along with fur seals. A beached leopard seal at Durras North on the NSW south coast in 2013. Credit: Michael Young "They travel a long way, from the sub-Antarctic, and they need to … Eared seals include fur seals and sea lions. Besides, when swimming, the seal mainly uses the hind When comparing a sea lion vs. seal you can spot the difference a few ways, one of which is the lack or presence of an ear. Pinnipeds are split into three families – True Seals (Phocidae); Eared Seals (Otariidae) and the Walrus (the sole member of Odobenidae). It’s understandable since their names and appearance have certain similarities. According […], Scientists typically refer to the rise in global average temperature and the associated effects on Earth’s climate with the term […], Triacetone triperoxide (TATP) is a powerful explosive without military use because it is very sensitive to mechanical shock and so […], For most people, amphibians (e.g. Kristen Dell, National Geographic Society, Sheryl Hasegawa, National Geographic Society They can rotate under the sea lion's body and support it, enabling the sea lion to "walk" with the flippers on land. The Galapagos fur seal belongs to a genus of fur seals called Arctocephalus (or Arctophoca), meaning bear-headed. However, they are not nearly as innocent as you’d like to believe. SEALS AND SEA LIONS are marine mammals known as pinnipeds; there are 33 species worldwide. The pinniped suborder has 33 species in three families. (3,855.5 kilograms). Behind the Scenes of Our January 2021 Special Issue, ‘2020: The Year in Pictures’ Let’s sort out the taxonomy first. Have students identify differences.Have students find at least two features that differ in seals and sea lions. They have powerful front flippers used for swimming. Show them the photo gallery of harbor seals, leopard seals, and California sea lions. Sea lions who make their homes in warmer, tropical waters like the South American sea lion, tend to be smaller than those which make their home in colder waters. This lists the logos of programs or partners of, National Geographic Animals: California Sea Lion, explain why scientists classify animals into different groups, identify the similarities and differences between seals and sea lions, describe how the similarities help the animals to swim in cold water, Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector, Speakers. They communicate through quieter grunts and whines than sea-lions, who are known for their loud barks. animal with hair that gives birth to live offspring. Leopard seals are second only amongst seal species to elephant seals in terms of size. They return to land to give birth and nurse their young. Then, The orca and leopard seal both swim back into the sea. Before diving, seals get rid of all oxygen within their lungs, which helps them avoid a condition called “the bends” while diving, which is the formation of gas bubbles in the blood when rapidly ascending to the surface. 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