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SEAL EVOLUTION

Seal Adaptation and Evolution


Based on the scientic data we have, it is believed that seals evolved
from land animals to what we know today. These creatures spend most of
their time in the water, especially for hunt, but also some of it on land.
They fact that they move on their stomachs doesnt allow them to get
anywhere fast on land. Yet when they are in the water, the design of their
bodies denitely works to their advantage.
There is evidence to suggest that seals have been on the Earth for more
than 15 million years. The remains that have been found show that these
seals were once mainly land animals. However, over time their
appendages changed into ippers so they could survive mainly in the
bodies of water. Researchers believe that if the seals hadnt been able to
do so they would have become extinct millions of years ago.
There is no doubt based on DNA and other scientic methods that seals
are denitely related to the early land ancestors found. Many of these
early ndings show that there were times when the seals didnt have to
evolve or adapt to any changes for a very long time. Then during other
periods of time it seems like they have had to make many changes over
the course of a very short span of time.
It may seem like we are just touching on the tip of what took place with
seal evolution. You have to remember though that it does take time to nd
the verications. It also takes time to develop great testing methods so
that the information can be valuable and real instead of mere speculation.
Even though such changes, seals still have many characteristics of their
early ancestors. This indicates that there evolution has been one out of
necessity. It also indicates that such changes have been very slow to
emerge. Many researchers wonder what future evolutionary changes are
in store for the seal due to what is going on environmentally that is a
threat to them at this point in time.
It is important to note that the evolution of seals doesnt just suggest
changes in very early times. There is plenty of evidence to suggest they
had to evolve in the early 1970s as well. This was due to their natural
environment being destroyed and a lack of food available. It is believed
that many of them followed the Gulf Stream in the water to reach Europe
at that time. Others followed warm water currents into the Atlantic all the
way down to the Caribbean. Others moved on down to Hawaii where they
are very prosperous today.
Some would argue that this is migration rather than evolution. Yet for it to
be migration, it would have to be done on a yearly basis. Then the seals
would return to their location of origin. This isnt the process though as
they have remained in those new locations since they moved there. That
is why such changes are categorized as evolution for seals and not as a
migration pattern. Some species are migratory.
What we do know about seal evolution is based on science. There are still
some good theories about it, but not all of it can be identied at this time.
As more research continues though and other remains are found, we can
continue to connect the pieces about seal evolution. This is a very
fascinating part of history that you may want to follow in depth. As you
learn more about early forms of seals you will come to appreciate their
e"orts of adaptation in order to survive as their natural environment
around them forced them to evolve.





"Seal Evolution." Seal Facts and Information. Web. 20 May 2014.
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