Seals do not have an ear that extends from the skull, but they can still hear well.  Seals propel themselves through the water with their rear flippers. Their front flippers are used for steering.  The front flippers of seals are short with sharp claws.  Seals cannot use their rear flippers to walk on land or ice and most appear awkward when moving on these surfaces.  Seals have a torpedo like shape in the water and use their rear flippers to move rapidly to catch prey and escape predators. The other seals of the world make up the smallest populations of seals.