There are many different kinds of seals, each with a different size, shape, color and behavior. Some seals are smarter than others, some seals diver deeper than others, some like warm water and some like the icy waters of the poles. Take this quiz to learn more about seals.
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Question 2 of 21
In which ocean are most seals found?
the Southern Ocean
the Arctic Ocean
all oceans
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Seals are found in all oceans, but are most abundant in the Arctic and Antarctic waters. Seals make up the pinniped animal group.
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Question 3 of 21
How heavy is the largest adult seal?
130 pounds
3500 pounds
8,000 pounds
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The largest adult seals weigh over 8,000 pounds. However, some adult seals only grow to 130 pounds. Adult seals range in length from 4.5 feet to 20 feet (1.5 to 6 meters).
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Question 4 of 21
What are Californian sea lions known for?
Their ability to perform tricks.
Their prominence in zoos.
Both of the above.
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Californian sea lions are one of the best-known seal species, since they are usually the species found in zoos and are often trained to perform tricks.
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Question 5 of 21
What is the oil from seal blubber mostly used for?
cosmetics
soap
paint
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Oil from seal blubber is mostly used for soap. Seal fur is used as a fashion item and seal flesh is sometimes used as fertilizer and animal feed.
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Question 6 of 21
Earless seals:
have no ears.
have no earflaps.
are deaf.
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Seals are categorized into those with ears and those without ears. All seals have internal ears, but earless seals do not have protruding earflaps.
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Question 7 of 21
Seals are warm-blooded creatures. What does this mean?
They get hot very quickly.
They prefer summer climate.
They can maintain a constant body temperature.
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Warm-blooded creatures have body mechanisms that allow them to control their body temperature, keeping their temperature at a constant regardless of the outside temperature. Seal blubber acts as an insulator against the cold and the circulatory system of earless seals restricts blood flow to the skin, helping them to reduce the amount of heat lost from the skin.
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Question 8 of 21
Why do seals have tears running out of their eyes all the time?
to rinse out their eyes from the salt water
because they don't have tear ducts
because they are depressed
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Seals do not have tear ducts, so tears are constantly running out of their eyes. Seals have thick, spherical eye lenses that allow them to see well under water.
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Question 9 of 21
How deep can seals dive?
160 feet
600 feet
5000 feet
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Most seals can dive between 160 and 600 feet (49 and 183 meters), although elephant seals can dive more than 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) deep!
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Question 10 of 21
What is common among all eared seals, but rare amongst earless seals?
polygamy
tusks
multiple births
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All eared seals are polygamous and, except for the gray and elephant seals, earless seals are monogamous. Male eared seals attempt to gather a harem, which ranges in size from three to 40 females. The size of the harem depends on the species and strength of the bull.
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Question 11 of 21
Many seals migrate long distances. Which seal prefers to stay close to home throughout the year?
harp seals
gray seals
harbor seals
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Harbor seals have acquired their name from their tendency to stay close to home, which is usually the harbor. Harbor seals live mainly along shorelines and are found on both the east and west coasts of the U.S.
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Question 12 of 21
How old are harbor seals when they start to swim?
a few minutes
a few days
a few months
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Harbor seal pups can swim when they are just a few minutes old. However, their mother will accompany them around the harbor until the pups are a bit older. If the mother senses danger she takes her pup in her mouth and dives with it.
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Question 13 of 21
Which is the biggest pinniped?
whales
walruses
elephant seals
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Elephant seals are the biggest pinnipeds and the only pinnipeds that are larger than walruses. Elephant seals are the second largest sea mammals after whales.
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Question 14 of 21
How long can an elephant seal stay under water without coming up for air?
one hour
two hours
three hours
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Elephant seals are able to dive for over an hour without needing to come up for air. They do this by storing more oxygen in their blood than other kinds of pinnipeds, saving the need to come up for oxygen as frequently.
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Question 15 of 21
How are the pups of a harp seal sometimes referred to?
as whitecoats
as pelt pups
as ice pups
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Harp seal pups are born with a white coat of fur. The pups used to be largely hunted for their soft, white pelts and were given the name whitecoats. A couple of weeks after birth the harp pup's coat turns gray and the pups is now ready to swim.
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Question 16 of 21
Where do ringed seals give birth?
in an ice house
on fast ice
on pack ice
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Ringed seals build an ice house where they give birth and keep their pup warm, snug and safe. They do this by swimming under the ice and finding a cracked section where there are holes. They come up through the hole and use their claws to dig out the ice and snow, hollowing out a place where the mother and her pup will be able to cuddle together.
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Question 17 of 21
Where do Baikal seals get their name from?
Baikal, Greenland
Lake Baikal, Siberia
Mount Baikal, Canada
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Baikal seals live in Lake Baikal, a freshwater lake and the deepest lake in the world. The lake is in Siberia and is covered with ice most of the year that can get to three feet thick. Baikals each make their own breathing and haul-out hole and are one of the few seals that may give birth to twins.
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Question 18 of 21
What is fast ice?
ice that is covering land
ice that is attached to land
ice that is floating in water
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Fast ice is attached to land, as opposed to pack ice, which floats on water. Ringed seals prefer to breed on fast ice. However, non-breeding ringed seals prefer pack ice, because the water underneath it contains food which they can hunt for.
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Question 19 of 21
How man species of southern fur seals are there?
6
8
10
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There are eight species of southern fur seals and the largest and most numerous is the South African, or cape, fur seal. Southern fur seals are found near Baja, California, South America, South Africa, Australia and Antarctica. The Australian fur seal is protected, because fur seals are commercially hunted.
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Question 20 of 21
At what time of day do fur seals sleep?
morning
noon
night
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Fur seals are most active at night and sleep during the middle of the day, floating on their sides.
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Question 21 of 21
What is the similarity between a seal lion and a lion?
their roar
their mane
both of the above
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Male sea lions have manes and can sometimes roar like a lion.
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