Clarifying Wolf Species, Verifying Fish Locations and More Reader Feedback

We love to hear from our readers. Whether you have a story idea, article feedback or simply want to share a personal story about an animal encounter or a beloved pet, visit our contact page to get in touch. Enjoy this week’s top reader feedback.

Pups are Weaned in a Matter of Weeks, Not a Year

Lots of good information here (“What’s a Baby Seal Called & 5 More Amazing Facts“), but the statement about seal pups being “weaned at around 1 year old” is incorrect. While otariid pups (sea lions and fur “seals” – a misnomer) may be nursed for that long, true seals (phocids) like the ones you show are weaned in a matter of weeks, not months, and none for a year. Female seals focus on providing nourishment, protection on the rookery, and some may help their pups learn to swim, but then wean them abruptly and never see them again. By contrast, otariid mothers invest intensively in their upbringing for one year or a little longer, because their societies are far more complex. Both are great moms, each in their own fashions!

Thanks for letting folks know about them … I’ve been involved in marine mammal rescue, rehab and conservation for decades, and know we can learn much about the ocean ecosystem through animals such as these. — Mary Jane S.

Mary Jane: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have updated the article accordingly.

baby-seal-on-sand — Seal pups are weaned from their mothers in a matter of weeks after birth.
©Nicram Sabod/Shutterstock.com

It’s Not From Africa!

In your list of “most intelligent fish,” the Tiger Oscar is called an African cichlid. That is INCORRECT! Oscars all come from South America waters only, NEVER from Africa. That blatant error makes the rest of the work ‘questionable’ for accuracy. — Steve Bogert

Dear Steve: Thank you for making us aware of the error. It has been corrected. — A-Z Animals

Oscar fish swimming in dark water — All African cichlids are cichlids, but not all cichlids are African cichlids. For example, the Tiger Oscar pictured above is simply a cichlid.
©iStock.com/Silk-stocking

How Many Types of Wolves Are There, Really?

The article (about types of wolves) states there are two types of wolves in the world. This ignores the African/golden wolf (Canis anthus) of west, north, and east Africa, as well as the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) of the Ethiopian highlands. In North America, there is also the close relative of the red wolf, the Eastern wolf (Canis lycaon) which lives in southeastern Canada and around some parts of the Great Lakes. Some scientists consider Eastern wolves and red wolves to be subspecies of gray wolves or hybrids of gray wolves and coyotes. — Gregory R.

Gregory: Thank you for your letter. We will direct you to the International Wolf Center website where you will find more information that may help better clarify.