Pinniped

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Pinnipeds | image = sealu.jpg | image_width = 200px | image_caption = Juvenile Antarctic Fur Seal | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Mammalia | ordo = Carnivora | subordo = Caniformia | subdivision_ranks = Families | subdivision = Odobenidae
Otariidae
Phocidae }} Pinnipeds ("fin-feet", lit. "winged feet") are large marine mammals belonging to the former biological suborder Pinnipedia (sometimes now a superfamily) of the order Carnivora. The pinnipeds now fall within the suborder Caniformia and comprise the families Odobenidae (walruses), Otariidae (sea lions, eared seals, and fur seals), and Phocidae (true seals).

Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and rather large. Their bodies are well adapted to their aquatic habitat, in which they spend most of their lives. In place of hands, their forelimbs are large flippers (hence the name "fin-foots"), and their bodies narrow out into a tail. The smallest pinniped, the Galapagos fur seal, weighs about 30 kg (66 lb.) when full-grown and is 1.2 meters (4 feet) long; the largest, the male southern elephant seal, is over 4 meters (13 feet) long and weighs up to 2,200 kg (4,850 lb, more than 2 tons). All pinnipeds are carnivorous, eating fish, shellfish, squid, and other marine creatures.

Image:Lightmatter seal.jpg Image:Walrus.jpg Image:Hydrurga leptonyx.JPG

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Families

Pinnipedia (pi-ni-peed' e-a)(L. pinna, feather, + ped, foot) currently has three identified families:

Odobenidae (walruses): contains 1 species in 1 genus
Otariidae (sea lions, eared seals, and fur seals): contains 12 species in 6 genera
Phocidae (true seals): contains 19 species in 13 genera

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Hybrids

A hybrid sea lion from a cross between the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) and the South American sea lion (Otaria byronia) has occurred. A genetically confirmed Harp seal x Hooded seal hybrid has occurred.

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