Translation 2783

..... 7
The presence of a thick layer of subcutaneous fat, which acts
as a heà.t-insulator, i s characteristic of most members of the ordèr.
,:.'he thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer may ic:e.ch 8-10 cm cùrinthe
period of hi ;hest nutrition of the animals. i,el;osi'tion of the
fat layer takes place mostly during a period of intensive feeding
(usually in the.:;ummc.^r and autumn, but in some suecies in winter).
Different species feed on fishes, on crustaceans, and on molluscs.
During the breedin ;and moultii,;; periods ^^innipede., remain
for, a fairly long time on solid sub:;trate., --- ice or dry land --
forming lar^ egroups or rookeries.
k'innipedes are distributed mainly in the cold and 'temperate
waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and in the Arctic and. lrntarctic
Oceans.
^ome of them live in inland bodies of.fresh water
t,Lakes Jsai>,cal, Onega, Ladoga, and baima) and also of salt water (Caspian
Sea).
A smaller number of snecies live in warm waters off the
coasts of Africa, Austra.lia,''aouth America, and the 14editerranea.n.
1=inni.pédes are of n,reat value to the national economy., being
the subject of awicîely-»developed marine--rnamma.l industry; some hun-=
dreds of thousands of the animals-are taken each year in,all parts
of their range, but mostly in the Atlantic an6 ïacific Occ:ans. The
chief products of the industry are valuable raw furs, leather, oil
(used medicinally and as food), and meat (used. as human food by the
natives of Arctic regions and as animal. food on fur fEti:ms).
The order 11inninedi.a includes three families: Otariidae
(eared seals), Odoba.enidae ^^^a.lruses), and. i-hociciae (true seal.s).
::',AttED 'Sc,l,Là (boa-Lions and. Fur. -oeals) -- 0`l'Ai,I]:i)rlej
7
The principal external distinguishinL, features of seals of
this family are: small external •ee.r pinna, covereci wit;i fur; sharp
muzzle, bearing six or seven rows of long ;:nooth vibrissao; f1e,-ible
neclc.
The front flippers have an acute-a,nr;led wini;-like shape, usu--
al.ly without clax•;s.
The hind flipper, a.x•ticu:lctite on a i:aei;atar;:r^1
joint, are lar^-;ol.y devoid of hair., and tei:mi.nr^.tc in a frinc;e of .31cin
clrlw, s..l.c arel1:•.d.evoloi>cd only. 011' the 't117•ee c-ntval
dip-its. 'l'}-ie tail is conical in cha.pe. testes li.i: in a cle .rlyvisible
::c.l.'o'tL11n,
The colourin,^,; is d.r:lr.'k, rrlmo:;t uriifo:c•ni in l;onc.
I,emhc7•.' of., thi... I'1111i.l,t.y are mo,, t].y