Hunter or prey
Fur seals are Carnivorans and skilled aquatic hunters. Their diet consists mainly of fish and squid, but they can even take on a small shark. However, they must stay alert themselves.
A fur seal's only hunting tool is its teeth. As fur seals age, the teeth change colour from white to brown and eventually black. This isn’t a sign of decay or plaque—quite the opposite. The dark colouring is caused by “friendly” bacteria on the surface of the teeth, which help protect them.
Adult fur seals can weigh several hundred kilograms, and on land, they are safe from all enemies except humans. However, it’s a different story in the water, where they are a key item on the menu for orcas and great white sharks, which won’t hesitate to leap out of the water when hunting.
Cape fur seal pups often fall prey to brown hyenas, jackals, and occasionally even lions.
CZECH: Lovec nebo kořist
ZOOPRAHA.CZ
Contacts
- The Prague zoological garden
U Trojskeho zamku 120/3
171 00 Praha 7
Phone.: (+420) 296 112 230 (public relations department)
e-mail: zoopraha@zoopraha.cz
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