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From: cl@lgc.com (Cameron Laird)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Why do seals clap?
Message-ID: <1991May31.182707.13229@lgc.com>
Date: 31 May 91 18:27:07 GMT
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I have unreliable images in my mind that seals (in zoos,
circuses, television programs) clap their flippers.  Why?
I'm looking for a structural-functional answer along the
lines of,

	Seals don't, but adult male sea lions do;
	it's an easy behavior to train, in its
	similarity to the territorial display ...
or
	They make a motion like that when chasing
	mackerel, and ...
or
	It's part of the stereotypical response
	of infants who are trying to attract
	their mothers' attention when ...

Anyone know?
--

Cameron Laird				+1 713-579-4613
cl@lgc.com (cl%lgc.com@uunet.uu.net)	+1 713-996-8546