Pinnipeds

Sea Lions, Seals & Walruses

The scientific order, Pinnipedia, consist of seals, sea lions, and walruses. The word pinnipedia means fin or feather footed. All members of this order are expert divers and have four swimming flippers. They can hear and see well on land and in water and are able to withstand large temperature changes. Here at Miami Seaquarium® we have Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions.

Seals

Sea Lions

Swim using back flippers

Swim using front flippers

Steer using front flippers

Swim using back flippers

No external ear flaps

External ear flaps

Spotted or mottled coat color

Solid coat color

On land, bounce on stomach

On land, walk on all flippers

Sea Turtles

Sea turtles have inhabited the earth’s waters for millions of years. Sea turtles live for long periods of time but scientists are not certain of their life spans as sea turtles can outlive the scientists. Currently, five of the eight recognized species of sea turtle can be found in the waters surrounding Florida.

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Loggerhead Turtle

Known for its unusually large head, the loggerhead is the most widely seen sea turtle in South Florida. The carapace, top shell, and flippers are usually a reddish-brown color while their plastron, bottom shell is yellow. Loggerhead turtles can be seen throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

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Leatherback Turtle

Referred to as the champion of all sea turtles, the leatherback turtle grows the largest, dives the deepest, and travels the furthest. Adults of this species can grow 4 to 8 ft in length and can weigh 500 to 2000 pds. The leatherback can be seen worldwide from the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

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Green Sea Turtle

One of the largest of the eight species of sea turtles, the green turtle has been documented to grow to a maximum of about 4 feet and weigh 440 pounds. The shell is considered heart-shaped in appearance. An adult female green sea turtle may lay up to nine nests in one season, which runs from June through September.

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