Clawed forelimbs allow northern seals to eat like their ancient ancestors.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Hocking DP
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5936949 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Clawed forelimbs allow northern seals to eat like their ancient ancestors.
Hocking David P DP Marx Felix G FG Sattler Renae R Harris Robert N RN Pollock Tahlia I TI Sorrell Karina J KJ Fitzgerald Erich M G EMG McCurry Matthew R MR Evans Alistair R AR
Royal Society open science 20180418 4
Streamlined flippers are often considered the defining feature of seals and sea lions, whose very name 'pinniped' comes from the Latin <i>pinna</i> and <i>pedis</i>, meaning 'fin-footed'. Yet not all pinniped limbs are alike. Whereas otariids (fur seals and sea lions) possess stiff streamlined forelimb flippers, phocine seals (northern true seals) have retained a webbed yet mobile paw bearing sharp claws. Here, we show that captive and wild phocines routinely use these claws to secure prey durin ...[more]
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