northern fur seal was discovered thanks to Russian naval expedition, which stood at the origins of even the Emperor Peter the Great.Scheduled to them on the eve of the death investigation of the Extreme Northeast Empire was embodied in the two Kamchatka expedition led by Vitus Bering.During the second expedition as a result of shipwreck seamen were forced to spend the winter on the island, which was then given the name Bering.Assistant Bering Georg Steller, a naturalist and physician, discovered on the island rookeries unfamiliar animals.Since Europeans first learned what kind of animal - fur seal.Later Steller left recording in which the famous Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus classified and unknown northern animal.
hard to say why Steller decided to call these animals seals.The sounds they make, do not have a furry pet purring nothing.Maybe their fur Steller seemed like a cat?Also unlikely.
Fur seal belongs to the family of eared seals.This predatory animals that feed mainly on fish.Interestingly, the sea lions, too, belongs to the family of eared seals, often compete with seals for the coastal areas.The fact is that during the breeding season of both overlap, and at this time the males arrange "showdown", trying to oust competitors from the comfortable seats, suitable for females with newborn calves.Steller sea lion is much larger, and in the struggle, "one on one" it will inevitably triumph.But the fur seal and does not seek to organize combat.Using the fact that it is much more mobile, collects cat family and are four or five of the Steller sea lion attacking from all sides.In that case, the fight is difficult to predict the outcome.Often it also happens that the sea lion, bow to small and arrogant aggressors leave the disputed territory.
However, to say that the fur seal - small, is not quite true.The length of the body of the male reaches two hundred and twenty centimeters, and the weight passes for three hundredweight.Females are less massive: their "growth" - a hundred and forty centimeters, and weight - not more than seventy kilograms.
habitat fur seals - the northern part of the Pacific Ocean.As soon as people got acquainted with this animal, it started hunting.The object of desire proved valuable fur.In the middle of the eighteenth century, the number of seals was just incredible.But people were too greedy.Hunting was conducted for centuries, and by the middle of the twentieth century views under threat of extinction.But, thank God, people just woke up.In 1957, it adopted the International Convention for the Protection of fur seals.Their population began to recover.Who is fishing in very limited quantities.Many areas, especially where there were numerous rookery seals, empty.In particular, the island of the seals, which is the name of a received it due to the fact that the number of pinnipeds it was very great.
Seals easily trained, so they are popular among circus performers.These animals - born tightrope walkers, and deftly juggle the circus balls or any other items.Perhaps, from the family of seals is the highest it has aykyu seal.Photo submissions and attractions, where the protagonist is a cat, always show its high artistry and intelligence.
