Earless Seals | ||||||||||||||
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Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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Genera | ||||||||||||||
Cystophora Erignathus Halichoerus Hydrurga Leptonychotes Lobodon Mirounga Monachus Ommatophoca Phoca |
Phocids are the more highly specialized for aquatic life of the two groups and, unlike otariids, lack external ears and cannot bring their hind flippers under their body to walk on them.
They are somewhat more agile in the water than fur seals and sea lions. However, because they cannot turn their hind flippers downward, they are clumsy on land because they have to wriggle with their front flippers and abdominal muscles; this method of locomotion is called gallumphing[?].
See also: Crabeater Seal
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