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. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

Seals “speak” through a system of grunts, growls, snorts, hisses, whistles, and other vocalizations , used to coordinate hunts, build bonds, and simply socialize with pals.

They also have the ability to communicate by clapping their flippers against each other or, if their blubber gets in the way, their belly.

When displayed underwater, this seemingly playful behavior can carry serious meaning. A 2020 study captured the fir

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