Polar Animals: First Grade Research

"Seals" from www.pebblego.com

What are Seals?

• Seals are marine mammals. They have four flippers instead of legs. Whiskers help them feel around to find food. Seals may be 3 1/2 to 16 feet long.

Where do Seals Live?

• Seals live in the ocean. They come to land to lie in the sun and give birth. Most seals live in cold areas. They have fur and blubber to keep them warm.{Picture}

What do Seals Eat?

• Seals eat fish, squid, krill, and even penguins. Seals have sharp teeth. They tear off pieces of meat and swallow them whole.{Picture}

Seal Babies

• Female seals have babies on land. They give birth to one pup at a time. Pups drink their mother's milk until they can find their own food. {Picture}
  

Other Facts

• Some seals can hold their breath for 2 hours.

• Seals gather at rookeries of up to 150,000 seals to mate. {Picture}
  

• Seal sounds include barks, moans, and wails.
  

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Glossary:

blubber: A thick layer of fat under the skin of some animals.

flipper: A paddle-like body part on the side of a sea animal.

krill:Tiny animals that look like shrimp.

marine mammal:A warm-blooded animal with a backbone and hair or fur that spends most or all of its time in the sea or ocean.

pup:A baby seal.

rookery: A place on shore where seals gather to mate.