The Marine Mammal Center's hospital and customer center in Sausalito, California, has reopened to the public! Book your go to right this moment! Tickets are free but must be reserved on-line prematurely. The phrase "pinniped" means fin- or flipper-footed and refers to the marine mammals that have front and rear flippers. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, the ancestors of pinnipeds lived on land. These had been in all probability weasel- or bear-like animals that spent more and more time in the ocean and finally adapted to this marine surroundings. Pinnipeds are separated into three teams: earless seals, eared seals and walruses. This group consists of seals, sea lions and walruses -- animals that stay in the ocean but are able to return on land for long intervals of time. Typically referred to as earless seals or true seals, marine mammals in the phocid household may be easily recognized by taking a look at their ears and flippers. They also have small front flippers and transfer on land by flopping alongside on their bellies, a movement called "galumphing." At sea, true seals transfer their rear flippers again and forth like a fish tail to propel themselves via the water. They've ear holes however no exterior ear flaps. You'll be able to acknowledge these animals by their flippers and ears. Sea lions and fur seals are a part of the otariid family and are sometimes referred to as eared seals. Not like true seals, otariids have external ear flaps. Their entrance flippers are massive, and on land they are able to deliver all four flippers beneath their our bodies and stroll on them. In the water, they swim utilizing their entrance flippers like oars. They have longer flippers than sea lions, together with a luxuriant coat of fur that was so prized by hunters that it introduced them to the brink of extinction within the nineteenth century. Walruses are in a household of their own known as the odobenids. Fur seals, in spite of having the phrase "seal" in their name, are actually closely associated to sea lions. They have air sacs in their neck that may inflate to permit them to float as if they cute panda teddy are carrying life preservers. Walruses are considered one of the biggest pinnipeds, with males reaching over 3,000 pounds. They stay in the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans, within the arctic area. Each males and females have tusks and vacuum-like mouths for sucking up shellfish from the ocean flooring. Canadian laws, but restricted hunting by the Inuit individuals is allowed. Walruses are protected below U.S. The Marine Mammal Middle cares about your privacy. Learn our privacy coverage.