Displaying items by tag: pelage

Phocid seals, like other pinnipeds, have a layer of hair and a specialized fat layer called blubber.  Blubber serves many functions but chief among them are providing thermal protection and serving as an energy storage depot.  

The integument (skin or pelt) of marine mammals is a very special organ! In cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises, whales) the skin is smooth and sleek and feels very similar to a hard boiled egg. In pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and fur seals), the skin is covered in a layer of hair which can vary greatly in its thickness depending on the species.