Whether you prefer to call them dog mermaids, sea puppies, or dogs of the sea, there is certainly no denying that seals bear a striking resemblance to man’s best friend on land. But just because dogs and seals look and behave similarly doesn’t necessarily mean that they are in any way related… Or does it? Are seals related to dogs?
I got to experience this uncanny resemblance firsthand during my recent trip to Duiker Island, Hout Bay, South Africa with Animal Ocean, where my suspicions that seals and dogs are somehow linked only mounted. From their big eyes and whiskered snouts, to their playful and inquisitive personalities (they liked to do somersaults around and nibble on us water humans), the only thing that could differentiate the two species in my mind was a set of flippers. Turns out—I might not have been too far off!
While the exact ancestral link is unknown and widely debated, science can and does tell us that both dogs and seals are members of the same taxonomic suborder of the animal kingdom. Seals, sea lions, and walruses are all considered pinnipeds and belong to the suborder Caniformia (meaning “doglike”). Other caniforms include bears, weasels, pandas, raccoons, and – you guessed it – dogs!
In her book The Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses, Marianne Riedman describes how “millions of years after the first mammal-like animals appeared on earth, several groups of land mammals began to live in the ocean, probably to avoid land predators and to take advantage of the abundant food in an immense and richly productive marine environment.”
This theory was also alluded to by the famous evolutionary theorist himself, Charles Darwin, in On the Origin of Species: “A strictly terrestrial animal, by occasionally hunting for food in shallow water, then in streams or lakes, might at last be converted in an animal so thoroughly aquatic as to brace the open ocean.” In other words, some prehistoric land mammal likely developed physical attributes over time that would enable it to survive in the sea. Appendages, for example, such as limbs and feet may have transformed to the characteristic fins and flippers we now see on modern-day seals.
It is still unclear whether or not seals and other pinnipeds evolved in such a way separately or as a group, but one strong theory suggests that they all diverged from a bearlike or doglike ancestor millions of years ago during their transition to the sea. In fact, as Riedman states, “The skulls of sea lions, bears, and such canids as large dogs and wolves are nearly indistinguishable at first glance.”
So even if scientists claim seals might be more closely related to ursoids (bears) or musteloids (otters) of the suborder than to dogs, I (far from a scientist) am content with the fact that there is at least some slight connection in their family tree. I mean, look at them! You can hardly tell the difference.
It might sound a little strange, but weve discovered 9 seal traits that prove theyre the dogs of the deep.
What breed is the dog in The Little Mermaid?
Max. We’re first introduced to the “hairy and slobbery” Max in the opening scene of Disney’s 1989 animated feature film “The Little Mermaid.” The Old English sheepdog is Prince Eric’s loyal companion.
How much is a Afghan hound?
Afghan hounds can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000 for most pet-quality animals. If you’re looking for a show dog, you can expect to pay up to $2,500. Breeding rights and papers are typically more expensive, so keep that in mind if you want to breed your dog.
Their eyes are specially adapted for sight in dark and murky water. Eyes contain a high number of rod cells that specialize for black, white and grey pigments and are sensitive to low light levels. Seals have a well-developed tapetum lucidum, a layer of reflecting plates behind the retina.
Do seals like being pet?
Some seals do enjoy paying around with humans simply because they can be playful animals, but that does not mean you should get close to them and touch them. These are still predators that have natural instincts and who’s play bites are only playful to another seal with thick blubber and a tolerance to pain.
A mermaid is a mythological creature that is half maiden and half fish or sea serpent. These women are often known to be both mysterious and enchanting. They are creatures of the sea and known to spend the majority of their lives in this environment, though some tales claim that there were mermaids who had the ability to live on both land and sea.
Are selkies still considered mermaids?
Although Selkies are still categorized as mermaids, they are often portrayed as having a different transformation process. The Selkies were known to have the gift of therianthropy – the ability to change from human to animal form at will. They accomplished this by shedding a seal skin when they desired to be on land and hiding it.
This theory was also alluded to by the famous evolutionary theorist himself, Charles Darwin, in On the Origin of Species: “A strictly terrestrial animal, by occasionally hunting for food in shallow water, then in streams or lakes, might at last be converted in an animal so thoroughly aquatic as to brace the open ocean.” In other words, some prehistoric land mammal likely developed physical attributes over time that would enable it to survive in the sea. Appendages, for example, such as limbs and feet may have transformed to the characteristic fins and flippers we now see on modern-day seals.
Whether you prefer to call them dog mermaids, sea puppies, or dogs of the sea, there is certainly no denying that seals bear a striking resemblance to man’s best friend on land. But just because dogs and seals look and behave similarly doesn’t necessarily mean that they are in any way related… Or does it? Are seals related to dogs?
I got to experience this uncanny resemblance firsthand during my recent trip to Duiker Island, Hout Bay, South Africa with Animal Ocean, where my suspicions that seals and dogs are somehow linked only mounted. From their big eyes and whiskered snouts, to their playful and inquisitive personalities (they liked to do somersaults around and nibble on us water humans), the only thing that could differentiate the two species in my mind was a set of flippers. Turns out—I might not have been too far off!
In her book The Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses, Marianne Riedman describes how “millions of years after the first mammal-like animals appeared on earth, several groups of land mammals began to live in the ocean, probably to avoid land predators and to take advantage of the abundant food in an immense and richly productive marine environment.”
So even if scientists claim seals might be more closely related to ursoids (bears) or musteloids (otters) of the suborder than to dogs, I (far from a scientist) am content with the fact that there is at least some slight connection in their family tree. I mean, look at them! You can hardly tell the difference.
FAQ
Are seals basically water dogs?
Why seals are like dogs?