Seals — thick-skinned inhabitants of icy oceans — often lie on their backs and slap their bellies. This looks amusing, but it actually serves as a complex form of communication.
Seals communicate through growls, grunts, hisses, whistles, and slapping their flippers. Research has recorded slaps made with the front flippers underwater — loud, high-frequency sounds that are easily distinguishable from background noise.
Most often, this behavior is exhibited by males during the mating season. The slaps serve as a demonstration of strength and convey to rivals: "I am strong, stay away," and to potential females — "my genes are good." Gorillas similarly beat their chests.
It is also believed that slaps may help these animals coordinate hunting, strengthen social bonds, and interact within the group, highlighting the complexity of their behavior and elements of advanced intelligence.
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