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Pinnipeds:

Pinnipeds are physically unique from other marine mammals. The presence of vibrissae, wiser-like sensory organs with dedicated nerve endings, muscle fibers, and blood supply, allow for effective foraging. Subcutaneous blubber supplies the animal with energy, while controlling buoyancy, streamline, and thermo regulation. Blood shunting restricts blood flow to vital organs thus limiting the amount of oxygen consumed and extending the length of a dive (Nowak 2003). Pinniped eyes are set in deep cushions of fat allowing minimizing the effects of pressure (Nowak 2003)

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Differences Between Seals and Sea Lions

	Seals: Harbor Seal	Sea Lions: Fur Seals Stellar Sea Lions.
Land Movement	Walks on all fours	Undulate
Aquatic Movement	Propulsion from fore-flippers	Propulsion from hind flippers
Sexual Dimorphism	Raised sagital crest; males larger	Males can be larger
Vocalization	Bark	Grunt and Hiss
Socialization	Social: lives in colonies	Solitary: lives in aggregates
Role of Hair	Thin hair used for streamline	Dense hair used for insulation
Ear Viability	External Ear Flaps	Internal ear
Fore-flippers	Hairless	Hairy
Diving	Dives forward	Submerges vertically

(Compiled from Nowak 2003)

Harbor Seals

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Harbor seals are extremely common in the Puget Sound and coastal regions. (Nowak 2003)
Although solitary, Harbor seals commonly live in aggregations ranging from dozens to several hundred along rocky shorelines. (Nowak 2003)
Males and females typically remain the same size as adults. (Nowak 2003)
Males are polygamists, traveling from one beach to another to mate with various females. (Nowak 2003)
Harbor seals are non-migratory. They move only to forage and breed. (Nowak 2003)
Diet typically consists of herring, octopus, anchovies, trout, salmon, flounder, and cod. (Nowak 2003)
Dives as deep as 210 m lasting 30 minutes have been recorded in observations of captive species (Nowak 2003)