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Pinnipeds ("fin-feet", lit. "winged feet") are large marine mammals belonging to the former biological suborder Pinnipedia (sometimes now a superfamily) of the order Carnivora. The pinnipeds now fall within the suborder Caniformia and comprise the families Odobenidae (walruses), Otariidae (sea lions, eared seals, and fur seals), and Phocidae (true seals). Recent molecular analysis reveals that the closest living relatives of the pinnipeds are the bears, which was already suspected for some time. It was also suspected that pinnipeds are paraphyletic, with the true seals derived from otterlike creatures and the walruses and eared seals from bearlike creatures. However, the same research shows that the pinnipeds are indeed monophyletic (derived from a common ancestor).
Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and rather large. Their bodies are well adapted to their aquatic habitat, in which they spend most of their lives. In place of hands, their forelimbs are large flippers (hence the name "fin-foots"), and their bodies narrow out into a tail. The smallest pinniped, the Galapagos fur seal, weighs about 30 kg (66 lb.) when full-grown and is 1.2 meters (4 feet) long; the largest, the male southern elephant seal, is over 4 meters (13 feet) long and weighs up to 2,200 kg (4,850 lb, more than 2 tons). All pinnipeds are carnivorous, eating fish, shellfish, squid, and other marine creatures.
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Seals and Sea Lions :: Mammals
Marine Mammals :: Mammalogy
New Word: Pinnipedia stands for seals - http://www.stand-for.com/what-does-pinnipedia-stand-for.html #dictionary
endictionary (stand for) Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:00:02 -0000
New Word: Pinnipedia stands for seals - http://www.stand-for.com/what-does-pinnipedia-stand-for.html #dictionary
Mediterranean Monk Seal Conservation Project - Focuses on the study and conservation of marine animals, which inhabit the Mediterranean sea with a special focus on the region's monk seals.
Meta Description: [ Dedicated to Mediterranean Monk Seals and their habitat Kizilliman marine protected area and conservation project. It focuses on marine animals and particularly on monk seals inhabiting the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, and aims at protecting its biodiversity by promoting the adoption of a precautio... ]
Elephant Seal RadioCam - Provides current image of a rookery in central California and 70,000 images collected since April 1999. Also includes streaming videos in Spanish and English.
Meta Description: [ National Science Foundation and California State University Monterey Bay Elephant Seal Science Curriculum. ]
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Evolution, Classification, and Distribution of Pinnipeds - Article covering all the world's species by Marianne Riedman.
Friends of the Elephant Seal - Includes information on friends of the elephant seal and the elephant seal colony at Piedras Blancas.
Marine Mammal Research Consortium - Steller Sea Lions - Research on the relation between fisheries and Marine Mammals in the North Pacific Ocean and Eastern Bering Sea. Primary focus is the decline of the Steller sea lion population.
Meta Description: [ The North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium is conducting a long-term research program on marine mammals and their interactions
with fisheries, other species and oceanographic conditions in the North
Pacific Ocean and Eastern Bering Sea. ]
Mom - Association for the Study and Protection of the Mediterranean Seal - Information about the Greek charity promoting conservation of Monachus monachus.
Meta Description: [ All the sightseeings on Skopelos island. The villages, the monasteries, historical monuments, nature beauties, excrursions, and many photos from Skopelos. ]
Monachus.org - Biology and conservation of the Mediterranean, Hawaiian, and Caribbean monk seals.
Meta Description: [ Monachus.org: The Internet site dedicated to the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean monk seals, Monachus monachus, Monachus schauinslandi, Monachus tropicalis. Featuring the biannual journal, The Monachus Guardian, the Monachus Library, Monachus Profiles, Monachus Science, the Monachus Network... ]
Online Zoologists: Pinnipeds - Includes an extensive list of species and information.
Pagophilus.org - News, science, and conservation of harp seals and other ice loving seals.
Meta Description: [ pagophilus.org ]
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Pictures: Seals and Sea Lions - Provides pictures of seals and sea lions that can be set as wallpaper and sent as e-greeting-cards.
Meta Description: [ Original pictures of seals and sea lions from PicturesOf.NET. The photos are also available as wallpaper and can be sent as e-greeting-cards. ]
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Pinniped Factsheets - Biology and ecology of almost all the world's species.
Pinniped Research in Cognition and Sensory Systems - Details of research program at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Seals and Sealions of the Falklands - Site offers maps, photographs and population data of Falklands seals and sealions.
Meta Description: [ Falklands seals & sealions - Photographs, maps and population data on Falkland Islands seals and sealions, with links to seals and sealions research reports. ]
Tony's Pinniped Tribute Site - Includes facts, images, and games.
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