All About Nature: Animals to Paint Online

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Pinnipeds (Order Carnivora) are marine mammals who live mostly in the water but spend some time on land or ice (usually to reproduce or rest). Pinnipeds include the seals, sea lions, and walrus; there are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today. Pinnipeds are found in polar, sub-polar and temperate waters.

Pinniped means "Fin Foot" in Latin. There are three families of pinnipeds, including:

• Phocidae (true seals, with no visible ear flaps)
• Otariidae (eared seals, including the fur seals and sea lions)
• Odobenidae (the walrus).

Pinnipeds have a thick layer of insulating blubber that keeps them warm in cold water. They also have more blood (per weight) than most other mammals, keeping them well-supplied with oxygen during long underwater dives. This allows these carnivores (meat-eaters) to hunt for their oceanic prey. Their diet includes fish, crustaceans, birds, and krill. Pinnipeds are hunted by polar bears, killer whales, sharks, and man.

Some pinniped printouts:

California Sea Lion California sea lions are eared seals that live off the coast of western North America. (Family Otariidae, Subfamily Otariinae)

Harbor Seal Harbor Seals live in the ocean but breathe air. They are marine mammals. (Family Phocidae, Subfamily Phocinae)

Harp Seal Harp Seals are marine mammals that live in the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. (Family Phocidae, Subfamily Phocinae)

Elephant Seal, Northern The Northern Elephant Seal is a huge seal that lives in the northern Pacific Ocean. (Family Phocidae, Subfamily Monachinae)

Northern Fur Seal The Northern Fur Seal is a marine mammal that lives in the northern Pacific Ocean. (Family Phocidae, Subfamily Arctocephalinae)

Seals Seals live in the ocean but breathe air. They are marine mammals.

Walrus The walrus is a large mammal that spends most of its life in icy seas.

Weddell Seal The Weddell seal is a large, nocturnal pinniped from Antarctica.(Family Phocidae, Subfamily Monachinae)

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