Seals, the blubbery dogs of icy oceans, have a curious habit of flipping on their backs and slapping their bellies like a drunken uncle after Thanksgiving dinner. While it may look silly, this behavior is actually a subtle and sophisticated form of communication.<\/p>\n
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Seals \u201cspeak\u201d through a system of grunts, growls, snorts, hisses, whistles, and other vocalizations<\/a>, used to coordinate hunts, build bonds, and simply socialize with pals.<\/p>\n They also have the ability to communicate by clapping their flippers against each other or, if their blubber gets in the way, their belly.\u00a0<\/p>\n When displayed underwater, this seemingly playful behavior can carry serious meaning. A 2020 study<\/a> captured the first footage of a male seal clapping its front flippers underwater<\/a> and found that it produced a loud, high-frequency noise capable of cutting through background sounds.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Combined with decades of other research<\/a> on the topic, the scientists concluded that the clapping was a \u201cshow of strength\u201d by the males, used in competitive breeding grounds to warn rivals and woo potential mates.<\/p>\n \u201cDepending on the context, the claps may help to ward off competitors and\/or attract potential mates,\u201d Dr David Hocking, lead study author from the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University in Australia, said in a statement<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Think of a chest-beating male gorilla, for example. Like seal claps, those chest beats carry two messages: I am strong, stay away; and I am strong, my genes are good.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear why seals might belly slap when on land or in captivity, especially if it\u2019s at the behest of a zookeeper, since there are very few studies into the matter. However, it\u2019s possible it could be used for a similarly confrontational purpose.\u00a0<\/p>\n But it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the seal is intimidated or scared. As one wise soul on Reddit pointed out,<\/a> dogs will bark<\/a> when they\u2019re threatened or want to “flex their muscles,\u201d but they can also be taught to woof in innocuous circumstances, especially if a treat is at stake. Perhaps seals are the same.<\/p>\n Indeed, seals and dogs are relatively closely related, a connection you can often catch a glimpse of in their behavior and appearance. They\u2019re both members of the taxonomic suborder known as Caniformia\u00a0(meaning dog-like) alongside wolves, foxes, raccoons, mustelids, walruses, and so on.<\/p>\n