The Pinniped Post

Fur Seals do something known as Jug Handling. Jug Handling is when a Fur Seal puts their flippers up on their bodies and makes a jug handle shape, thus the name Jug Handling. My personal picture of Fur Seals Jug Handling, taken at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut Nobody is totally sure why Fur Seals Jug Handle. The first idea is that Fur Seals may do this to regulate body temperature. They either keep their flippers out of the water to not lose heat to the water and keep themselves warm, or to keep themselves cool by letting water evaporate off of their flippers. The next idea is that Jug Handling is a safe way to sleep in the water because it keeps them in a stable position.  Another idea is that it keeps predators from being suspicious of the Fur Seal because the Fur Seal looks like something other than a Fur Seal, such as a piece of driftwood. If I ever learn the vast language of the Pinniped I will ask the ruler of the Fur Seals what Jug Handling is for and update...

Like most Mammals, Pinnipeds have tails too! I have observed for long periods of time at three different aquariums Pinnipeds swimming, and I have found that the tails may help with swimming, but I do not know for sure. But for now, I can safely say that they have little tails to be really kawaii.

There are only three aquariums in the United States that show Northern Fur Seals:  the New England Aquarium in Boston (three Fur Seals), the Seattle Aquarium (two Fur Seals), and the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. My personal photograph of the Northern Fur Seals at the New England Aquarium Before today Mystic Aquarium had three Fur Seals, but today they announced that there are two new Fur Seals joining the group! Welcoming mother and son Fur Seals Yura and Tuk. Screenshot of Mystic Aquarium's Instagram announcement  Half of the U.S.' Fur Seals shown in aquariums now are in Mystic Aquarium.

Just like Humans, Pinnipeds need to eat. The different Pinnipeds eat a variety of different food ranging from Krill to even Penguins. All Pinnipeds are carnivores, meaning that they eat meats and not plants. Seals eat Squid, Herring, Flounder, Hake, Rockfish, Salmon, and Mollusca.  Leopard Seals will even eat Penguins. Sea Lions eat a lot of the similar foods as Seals do. Walrus eat Clams, Worms, Gastropods, Cephalopods, Crustaceans, Sea Cucumbers, and Polar Cod. My personal photograph of two Harbor Seals in rehabilitation at the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic Connecticut, who are fed by the staff members 

Seals (Phocidae) and Sea Lions (Otariidae) are different families, and are all under the suborder of Pinnipeds. There are  differences between Seals and Sea Lions.  Sea Lions have visible ear flaps and have a rotating hip bone which allows them to walk swiftly on all fours.  Seals do not have ear flaps, and have to bounce on land because they do not have a rotating hip bone.  There is also the blubber difference.  Seals have a lot of blubber because they live in the colder areas of the world, while Sea Lions don't have as much blubber as Seals because they live in the warmer areas of the world.

Have you ever wondered what a Pinniped is? Well, a Pinniped is a marine mammal who spends much of its time in water. Their limbs are flippers that help them travel on land and glide through the water. Pinnipeds are split into three groups but still are Pinnipeds. Members of the Otariidae family have visible ear flaps, whereas Phocidae and the Obobenidae do not have visible ear flaps. Obobenidae have no fur whereas the Otariidae and Phocidae do.

Hello I am a happy Seal!!!