Hi folks,

I love the discussion about whales and seals.  Speaking of whales, have you
ever thought about how the moms break the umbilical cord after the birth.
Most mammal moms lean down and break the umbilical cord with their teeth.
Whales can't do that because they can't bend that far and baleen whales don't
even have teeth.  Whales spin while giving birth, steering with their
flippers. This spinning causes tension that helps the umbilical cord to snap.


I learned this -- and many wonderful mammal facts -- while researching my
children's book, "If My Mom Were A Platypus: Animal Babies and their
Mothers."

Here's another cool item I learned.  Hooded seals live about thirty years,
but spend only four days being an infant -- the shortest nursing period of
any mammal? Hooded seals live at sea, but they must give birth and nurse out
of the water. The only surface available is floating ice. Pups are born in
the spring when the ice is beginning to melt and break up. A sudden storm
might send pieces crashing together, crushing moms and pups. Or an ice floe
might split, and moms and pups could be separated. A short childhood helps
avoid these perils.

Thought you'd like to know....

Dia L. Michels
Platypus Media
Washington, DC  20002
[log in to unmask]
PlatypusMedia.com

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