Seals - 'hyper-ventalating'

[sometimes]

I don't get out much - well not to the seaside anyway (60miles at the closest) - yesterday I happened to see a Grey Seal not far from the shore. Usually I when I see them, that's it and they swim off. This one obliged and seemed to be diviing in the same place - so much so I was able to walk some 200yards round the shoreline and watch it for a while, taking what photos I could. First off, it seemed to be feeding(?) in the same place because it didn't move from a small area. I always thought they would come to the surface, take a breath and then dive again - the whole process a matter of seconds. This one would come to the surface, have a look round and then just stick it's snout out of the water - it was probably on the surface a couple of minutes and then it would slide under again for what seemed like 5minutes or more. It would then repeat the process. I have to presume the animal was hyperventalating (?) clearing it's lungs of CO2 and filling it's lungs/bloodstream with as much oxygen as possible. would I be right? I've not observed this snout in the air business before.

[thunder]

I haven't found any references to rapid breathing, but when they are at the surface, seals' heart rate is high, 120 beats per minute or more, allowing raid gas exchange from the blood. When actually diving, the rate goes down to around 40 bpm. They also have a high blood volume compared with terrestrial mammals. In addition they have myoglobin in their muscles, which, like haemoglobin in the blood, 'stores' oxygen. This allows them to take the long dives you have witnessed, because they have lots of oxygen in the blood and muscle. I don't think they fill their lungs though.

henrya

[Gill Catton]

I saw something very similar close to the Pembrokeshire coast, a seal near the cliffs amongst sea weed that was for the most part invisable but for its snout - though it sometimes lifted its head out. I also saw near it a larger grey seal which made me think that this was this years pup and that its was essentially trying to avoid detection by being as still and hidden as possible while still able to breathe. However I also watched the adult do this for far shorter periods and I wondered if also this was the seal sniffing the air to work out what was going on in their immediate area too? Just theories though.... I have photographs which I will upload when the computer starts behaving itself!!

[Gill Catton]

Right photographs!!

Ok first here's the first seal with typical views of it:






and then the larger second and presumed adult seal



and then the adult also doing a bit of nose waving:


apologies for the quality of the photos they have been a bit cropped to death!

[sometimes]

Looks about the same sort of thing as 'mine'. It was definitely on it's own and a full grown one at that, I guess.
I took some photos, but I have the same problem regarding 'a spec in the ocean', so I'm not sure any will be good, but may reinforce the point at hand. I've got to check through them so I'll post any that may seem of interest/illustrative.

[sometimes]

4 pics - v.small portion of mainly sea shots - they are 4 images from a 'single surface session' and are typical of each period on the surface

[Merrow]

not sure what they're doing with purely just their snout out of the water but they are very curious animals and will often just pop their head out of the water and watch what you are doing on the shore/in a boat etc.

We are lucky enough to see them every day where I work

[sometimes]

Originally Posted by Merrow

noboat etc.

We are lucky enough to see them every day where I work

I can't think of a nicer place to watch seals than your neck of the woods - though on my few visits I saw more dolphins than seals!

[Merrow]

We didn't have many dolphins in the harbour this year, sadly; not sure why but last year was a bumper year for sightings whereas this year we seem to have had way more seals bobbing about