Eighteen species of Seals exist today. Caribbean Monk seal is extinct since 1952. Seals live chiefly oceans, especially Antarctica or Artic oceans, but some live in fresh water lakes. The largest, elephant seal, weighs 5,000 lbs while the smallest, adult ringed seal, weighs 110 lbs. These torpedo shaped pinnipeds use rear flippers to propel them through water while sharp-clawed front flippers steer them. Pollution and predation threaten Artic seals more than do those in Antarctica.
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