What did walruses evolve from?

The extinct Desmatophocidae and the extant Odobenidae (walruses) and Otariidae (sea lions) evolved from the Enaliarctidae at different times and in the order in which they have been mentioned.

Do seals and sea lions have a common ancestor?

It’s long been assumed that marine mammals in the pinniped group – seals, sea lions and walrus – evolved from a land-based common ancestor, but until now, no definitive fossil evidence had materialized.

What did whales evolve?

Both hippos and whales evolved from four-legged, even-toed, hoofed (ungulate) ancestors that lived on land about 50 million years ago. Modern-day ungulates include hippopotamus, giraffe, deer, pig and cow.

Did otters evolve from seals?

All seals are pinnipeds, marine mammals with flippers. They evolved from land animals, either otters or bears.

Are seals and walruses related?

Seals, sea lions, and walruses belong to a group of marine mammals called pinnipeds, referring to their flippered feet. Seals (true seals or earless seals) have no external ear flaps. Steller sea lions are the largest in the family. Walrus are the largest pinnipeds, with some males registering over 3,000 pounds.

Are sea lions and walruses related?

Walruses are more closely related to sea lions than seals, but have physical characteristics of both. 1) They have large front flippers and can rotate their rear flippers under their bodies. They can walk very well on land using all four flippers like a sea lion.

Are whales related to walruses?

Despite the many similarities between killer whales, walruses, and manatees, they are — as surprising as it may sound — more closely related to wolves, cows, and elephants than to each other. They have adapted to the sea in many of the same ways, but they do not share the same immediate ancestors.

Did seals evolve from dogs?

Yes, seals (along with their cousins the sea lions and walruses) evolved from the same branch of ‘dog-like carnivorans’ that also gave us bears, dogs, weasels and so on.

What are the ancestors of pinnipeds?

Pinnipeds evolved from the ancestors of the musteloids which include everything from the red panda to skunks, badgers weasels, and raccoons. One potential ancestor was Puijila, an otter-like creature with a long tail and webbed feet that likely lived by freshwater lakes about 24 million years ago.

What is the difference between a sea lion and a walrus?

It’s easy to tell the enormous, tusked walrus from other pinnipeds, but seals and sea lions are easy to confuse. The easiest way is to look at their ears—sea lions have small ear flaps while seal ears are nothing but small holes.

How do pinnipeds survive in the sea?

Pinnipeds that live in the sea must rely on freshwater to survive. Special adaptations help them retain as much freshwater as possible. Most freshwater comes from a pinniped’s meal—Harbor seals obtain about 90 percent of their freshwater from the fish they eat. Once the food is ingested, pinnipeds retain the water for as long as possible.