Divine Wonders: 7 Spectacular Surprises Revealed About Seals

Spectacular, Surprising Seals

Around the world, seals and sea lions captivate people with their unique characteristics and behaviors. They have diverse meanings to different groups of people. Some view them as adorable performers in marine theme parks, while others see them as defenseless creatures hunted for their fur. Commercial fishermen may consider them a threat to fish stocks, while wildlife enthusiasts find them to be among the most spectacular creatures to observe in the wild.

Throughout history, seals have played significant roles in various cultures. Indigenous tribes in the frozen regions of the Northern Hemisphere have relied on seals for food, fuel, and clothing. These marine mammals possess expressive faces that have inspired legends, such as the belief in northwestern Europe that seals are women and children condemned to a life without a permanent home on land or at sea. Some even hold superstitions that killing a seal brings bad luck because they embody the souls of dead sailors.

Seals, sea lions, and walruses are collectively known as pinnipeds, which means "wing-footed" or "fin-footed" in Latin. They are divided into three families: Phocidae (true seals), Otariidae (eared seals or sea lions), and Odobenidae (walruses). Each family has distinct characteristics that set them apart.

True seals, belonging to the Phocidae family, are excellent swimmers. They use their hind flippers to propel themselves through the water, while their small front flippers act as rudders or stabilizers. True seals lack external ears and instead hear through small holes on either side of their heads.

Eared seals, or sea lions, are part of the Otariidae family. As their name suggests, they have small external ears. Their long front flippers, which can measure up to one-third of their body length, help them swim, while their hind flippers serve mainly as a rudder for steering. Sea lions have the ability to walk on land by turning their hind flippers forward under their bodies, enabling "four-footed" locomotion.

Walruses make up the Odobenidae family and possess characteristics of both true seals and eared seals. They lack external ears like true seals but use both their front and hind flippers to move in the water.

Seals are most commonly found in cold circumpolar seas, with 14 species of eared seals and 19 species of true seals. However, some exceptions exist, such as the Hawaiian monk seal, Californian sea lion, and species in the Mediterranean and Galápagos, which inhabit warmer climates.

A typical seal diet consists of fish, cuttlefish, octopuses, and crustaceans. However, certain species exhibit more predatory behavior, such as the Australian sea lion and leopard seal, which feed primarily on penguins. The crabeater seal, the most abundant seal in the world, feeds mainly on krill, a prawn-like crustacean found in polar waters.

Seals possess remarkable design features that enable them to thrive in both marine and terrestrial environments. While they hunt for food in the ocean, they come ashore to rest, mate, and give birth. For example, the harbor seal, a true seal, can often be seen sleeping belly-up on top of the water or even lying asleep on the sea bed for up to an hour. Eared seals also have the ability to sleep at sea while floating belly-up with one front flipper tucked under the other.

Newborn seal pups can travel on land and swim shortly after birth. It takes a few weeks for them to develop enough blubber to float and insulate themselves against the cold. During this time, their mother's milk is low in water content but high in fat, promoting rapid growth. This adaptation benefits both the pup and the mother, especially in habitats where water conservation is crucial.

Seals have a body shape that allows them to move efficiently in water while effectively retaining heat when transitioning between freezing water and air. They possess a circulatory system similar to whales and dolphins, which allows warm blood in arteries to transfer heat to cooler blood in veins, preventing excessive heat loss.

Additionally, seals have sophisticated insulation methods that involve an outer coat of protective guard hairs, a dense water-repelling undercoat, and a layer of blubber. This blubber layer does not compress during deep dives, maintaining its heat-retaining properties.

Seals also possess remarkable sensory capabilities. They have good underwater vision, even in low-light conditions, and their eyes can quickly adjust to changing light levels. Sensitive whiskers help them locate prey, particularly for species that feed on the ocean floor.

When it comes to vocalizations, seals are known for their distinctive barking sounds. However, they can also produce other vocalizations such as roaring, honking, chirping, bleating, grunting, and coughing. These vocalizations play a role in navigation, social behavior, and foraging. Males may use barks to assert dominance and defend their territories, while females may use vocal communication to locate their young when returning from feeding in the sea.

In the wild, observing a large group of seals swimming together and waving their fore-flippers in the air is a captivating sight. This behavior helps cool down pinnipeds like fur seals and sea lions. While their insulation is effective in cold temperatures, it can lead to overheating when temperatures rise. Waving their flippers provides relief from excess heat. On land, elephant seals address this issue by throwing sand over themselves with their flippers to keep the sun off their skin.

While seals thrive in the wild, some species are endangered. For example, monk seals, named for their preference for solitude or their necks' loose skin resembling a monk's hood, face population decline. The Hawaiian monk seal has an estimated population of 1,200 to 1,500 individuals, while the Mediterranean monk seal is rarely seen. The Caribbean monk seal, last observed in 1952, is considered extinct.

From an evolutionary perspective, scientists hold differing opinions on the natural history of seals, sea lions, and walruses. However, they generally agree that the earliest fossil records of seals, supposedly 20 million years old, closely resemble modern-day seals. Some even refer to monk seals as "living fossils" because they have remained virtually unchanged for 15 million years.

Evolutionary theories suggest that sea lions, fur seals, and walruses evolved from a bear-like ancestor on Pacific shores, while true seals arose more recently from an otter-like ancestor around the Atlantic. However, there is no fossil evidence to support these claims or any other theories on the evolution of pinnipeds.

Additionally, claims of convergent evolution, where different animals evolve similar adaptations independently, lack evidence and credibility. The specialized features shared by all three pinniped families, such as heat retention and diving abilities, indicate intentional design rather than a chance succession of evolutionary events.

Understanding the incredible design and characteristics of seals invites us to consider the work of a Creator who perfectly designed these creatures for their environment and life. Seals are not only functional but also beautiful to observe and study.

Why This Matters:

Studying seals allows us to appreciate the intricate design and diversity in God's creation. Their unique features and behaviors demonstrate the Creator's wisdom and intentionality in designing creatures that thrive in both land and water environments. Understanding the scientific aspects of seals can deepen our awe for God's creation.

Think About It:

Consider the complexity of seals' design and their ability to adapt to different environments. How does this challenge the notion that these creatures evolved through random processes? Reflect on the beauty and diversity of seals and how they point to a Creator who values both functionality and aesthetics.