The Marine Mammal Middle's hospital and customer center in Sausalito, California, has reopened to the general public! E-book your visit immediately! Tickets are free however must be reserved on-line prematurely. The word "pinniped" means fin- or flipper-footed and refers back to the marine mammals that have front and rear flippers. Tens of millions of years ago, the ancestors of pinnipeds lived on land. These were in all probability weasel- or bear-like animals that spent more and more time within the ocean and finally tailored to this marine surroundings. Pinnipeds are separated into three teams: earless seals, eared seals and walruses. This group includes seals, sea lions and walruses -- animals that live in the ocean but are able to come on land for lengthy durations of time. Sometimes referred to as earless seals or true seals, marine mammals in the phocid household could be easily recognized by taking a look at their ears and flippers. They also have small entrance flippers and transfer on land by flopping alongside on their bellies, a movement referred to as "galumphing." At sea, true seals move their rear flippers again and forth like a fish tail to propel themselves by way of the water. They've ear holes but no exterior ear flaps. You possibly can acknowledge these animals by their flippers and ears. Sea lions and fur seals are part of the otariid household and are generally known as eared seals. In contrast to true seals, otariids have external ear flaps. Their front flippers are massive, and on land they are able to deliver all 4 flippers beneath their bodies and stroll on them. Within the water, they swim utilizing their front flippers like oars. They have longer flippers than sea lions, together with a luxuriant coat of fur just6fstorebe8.yousher.com/seals-sea-lions-and-walruses-large-panda-teddy that was so prized by hunters that it brought them to the brink of extinction in the nineteenth century. Walruses are in a household of their own called the odobenids. Fur seals, in spite of having the phrase “seal” of their identify, are actually intently associated to sea lions. They have air sacs in their neck that can inflate to allow them to float as if they're carrying life preservers. Walruses are one among the biggest pinnipeds, with males reaching over 3,000 pounds. They live within the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans, within the arctic area. Each males and females have tusks and vacuum-like mouths for sucking up shellfish from the ocean flooring. Canadian laws, however restricted searching by the Inuit folks is allowed. Walruses are protected under U.S. The Marine Mammal Center cares about your privacy. Learn our privacy policy.