Sealiformes

Sealiformes is a taxonomic suborder within the order Carnivora, encompassing the pinnipeds. This group includes animals commonly known as seals, sea lions, and walruses. Pinnipeds are semi-aquatic marine mammals that are found in oceans around the world, with the exception of the Indian Ocean. They are characterized by their streamlined bodies, flippers, and blubber for insulation.

The suborder Sealiformes is divided into three extant families: Phocidae (true seals), Otariidae (eared seals, including sea lions and fur seals), and Odobenidae (walruses). True seals, or phocids, are characterized by their lack of external ear flaps and their inability to rotate their hind flippers forward, making them less mobile on land. Eared seals, or otariids, possess external ear flaps and can rotate their hind flippers, allowing for greater agility on land. Walruses, the sole living members of the Odobenidae family, are distinguished by their prominent tusks and their lack of external ear flaps, though they are more mobile on land than true seals.

Pinnipeds are carnivores, with their diet consisting primarily of fish, squid, and crustaceans. They are important components of marine ecosystems, serving as both predators and prey. Their conservation status varies among species, with some facing threats from habitat loss, climate change, and human activities.