Once the tooth emerges from the gum, the root continues to grow, forming a dentine ring around it for each year the animal lives. Similar to counting the rings on a tree, a pinnipeds age can be determined by counting the rings around the root of an extracted root. Though clumsy on land, the pinniped is exceedingly graceful in the water. They propel their bodies through the water by moving their flexible bodies and their flippers. In the Otariidae and Odobenidae families get their power from their front limbs, while the Phocidae family get most of their swimming power from the rear flippers.
Most pinnipeds are carnivorous, migrating to find enough to eat.
Some spend much of their time on land and others reside primarily in the sea. Either way, the pinniped is a unusual mammal, whose habits and characteristic continue to fascinate people the world over. This article will review the common attribuites shared by these animals. Inc. PageWise makes no representations about the content published on this site. PageWise hereby disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to this information, and user agrees that all such use is at its own risk.