I'm not sure why, but my fascination with ice worlds grows. The high Alps to the frozen worlds of our poles.Today's interesting animal from the frozen world is the Weddell Seal. This amazing animal from the southern hemisphere lives further south than any other mammal and endures such a short life. Why?
Well, it's because they live in such extreme conditions that they have to use their powerful jaws and canine like teeth to eat holes in the pack ice to create a hole just to breath.
The daily wearing of their teeth limits their usefulness and thus the seals have such a short life. The picture to the right shows one of these holes. You may even be able to see this Weddell's teeth marks in the solid ice. When pack ice stretches for hundreds of kilometers the only way you can grab a breath of air is to constantly battle the freezing ice around you.They are timid animals and have very few (if any) natural predators. It is also the reason they remain in their harsh ice prisons. The ocean down there is their own. They can dive to amazing depths and hold their breath for well over an hour. As a diver, they truly amaze me. I one day would love to see one face to face.
3 comments:
I love that you're such a sensitive wee soul!
I feel some kind of affinity here, as during a discussion on a work team bonding day everyone decided the animal I'm most like is a seal or a penguin. Not exactly sure why. Someone did mention the penguins from the movie Madagascar but they're a bit sinister...
Anyhoo. Keep up our education of wondrous things. We love to "Learn with Muz"!
Not sure I can picture you as a seal. They seem a bit dopey to me, and I know you're not that. Although, these Weddell seals appear to have a great smile, so there's that similarity. :)
I smile like a seal..?
Then again... you should see the tricks I can do with a beach ball...
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