The Marine Mammal Heart's hospital and visitor heart in Sausalito, California, has reopened to the public! E book your go to at the moment! Tickets are free however must be reserved online in advance. The word "pinniped" means fin- or flipper-footed and refers back to the marine mammals that have entrance and rear flippers. Tens of millions of years in the past, the ancestors of pinnipeds lived on land. These were probably weasel- or bear-like animals that spent an increasing number of time in the ocean and ultimately adapted to this marine environment. Pinnipeds are separated into three groups: earless seals, eared seals and walruses. This group includes seals, sea lions and walruses -- animals that stay within the ocean but are able to come on land for lengthy durations of time. Generally referred to as earless seals or true seals, marine mammals in the phocid household can be easily identified by taking a look at their ears and flippers. They also have small front flippers and transfer on land by flopping along on their bellies, a movement known as "galumphing." At sea, true seals move their rear flippers back and forth like a fish tail to propel themselves through the water. They've ear holes but no exterior ear flaps. You'll be able to acknowledge these animals by their flippers and ears. Sea lions and fur seals are a part of the otariid household and are sometimes known as eared seals. Unlike true seals, otariids have external ear flaps. Their entrance flippers are large, and on land they're able to bring all 4 flippers beneath their bodies teddy bear big teddy bear and stroll on them. Within the water, they swim utilizing their entrance flippers like oars. They've longer flippers than sea lions, together with a luxuriant coat of fur that was so prized by hunters that it introduced them to the brink of extinction within the nineteenth century. Walruses are in a household of their very own called the odobenids. Fur seals, in spite of getting the phrase “seal” of their name, are literally intently related to sea lions. They've air sacs in their neck that may inflate to allow them to float as if they are carrying life preservers. Walruses are certainly one of the largest pinnipeds, with males reaching over 3,000 pounds. They stay in the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans, in the arctic area. Each males and females have tusks and vacuum-like mouths for sucking up shellfish from the ocean flooring. Canadian laws, but limited hunting by the Inuit individuals is allowed. Walruses are protected below U.S. The Marine Mammal Middle cares about your privacy. Learn our privateness policy.