UNEQUAL RELATIVES

THE HARBOUR SEAL (TRUE SEAL)

THE HARBOUR SEAL (TRUE SEAL)

Phoca vitulina

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THE SOUTH AFRICAN FUR SEAL (EARED SEAL)

THE SOUTH AFRICAN FUR SEAL (EARED SEAL)

Arctocephalus pusillus

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Seal

HARBOUR AND FUR SEALS ON LAND

Harbour seals, like all true seals, are rather clumsy on land. Like all eared seals, fur seals are very agile on land.

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THE HARBOUR SEAL (TRUE SEAL)

THE HARBOUR SEAL (TRUE SEAL)

Phoca vitulina

Harbour seals live along the German coasts of the North and Baltic Seas and belong to the family of true seals. They can move faster in the water than on land and have ear canals, but no visible auricles.

AHA!

Have you ever wondered why harbour seal pups are also called howlers?
It’s because they typically howl for their mum.

Harbour seals
Harbour seals change their fur once a year while rearing their young. Underneath, they have a thick, warming layer of fat called blubber.
Harbour seals
11 months after mating, the young are born on land. They can swim immediately after birth and are suckled for 4—6 weeks.
Harbour seals
Harbour seals are solitary animals. On land, they come together in small groups during the birthing season, but lie at a distance from each other. They only make a few sounds.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN FUR SEAL (EARED SEAL)

THE SOUTH AFRICAN FUR SEAL (EARED SEAL)

Arctocephalus pusillus

South African fur seals live on rocky islands and coasts in the south-east Atlantic. They belong to the eared seal family and, as the name suggests, have visibly protruding auricles. Certain adaptations make it easier for them to move around on land.

AHA!

Did you know that seal calls are as different from each other as human voices?
It has been scientifically proven that the calls of harbour seals and fur seals differ individually.

Fur seals
Fur seals have a gradual coat change throughout the year. A dense undercoat keeps them warm and gives them their name.
Fur seals
Fur seals are sociable and live in large colonies. The males have a harem with several females during the mating season and fight to defend their territory.
Fur seals
12 months after mating, the young are born on land. They only venture into the water after about 2 weeks and are suckled for 1 year.
seals on land

HARBOUR AND FUR SEALS ON LAND

Harbour seals, like all true seals, are rather clumsy on land: They only have small front flippers on which they cannot support themselves. They therefore move with undulating, crawling movements.

Like all eared seals, fur seals are very agile on land: They lean on their front flippers, fold their hind flipper under their body and thus move on all four flippers. They rock strongly from left to right.