fur seal
a fur seal
a kind of animal – sea-water mammal – related to the seals, “eared” seals – streamlined body with soft thick fur (coat), relatively large head with small pointed ears (but relatively large for seals) and long stiff whiskers (= hair around the mouth and nose part) a pair of strong, muscular front flippers and a pair of back flippers; grows to 4-7 feet long and weighs 150-350 Kg. (females being smaller); feeds on (eats) medium-sized fish, squid, krill and sometimes small birds; lives up to 20 years; found in the cold parts of the oceans
ears & whiskers
female ~~ cow
baby ~~ pup
group ~~ colony; rookery (a colony of fur breeding seals)
voice (call) ~~ bark; yelp (‘pouff’, ‘pouff’ sound)
movement ~~ (?)
fur seal cubs clubbed to death
flippers used as hands and legs
The fur (coat/pelt) of fur seals was in great demand in 19thcentury.
Thousands of fur seals, including the pups, were clubbed (beaten) to death for their fur. Now seal hunting is banned in many parts of their habitation.
The ears of other seals, the ‘true seal’ are not visible, i.e. they do not have external ears, but the fur seals have prominent pointed external ears.
fur seal 'beach master'
Besides being good swimmers, like other seals, fur seals can walk easily on land with their strong front flippers; they can bring their back flippers to the forward to make walking easy.
During mating season, one senior or strong male has several females, some times a hundred, in his ‘harem’ (= a group of females belonging to one male), and guards them very aggressively. Those males are called ‘beach masters’!
About the Author:BC Kumar
BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language. Disclaimer: This is a free educational website and all content has been compiled by the author. All copyrights to images and videos belong to their respective owners.
