Thousands of pirates were active between 1650 and 1720, and these years are sometimes known as the ‘Golden Age’ of piracy. Famous pirates from this period include Henry Morgan, William ‘Captain’ Kidd, ‘Calico’ Jack Rackham, Bartholomew Roberts and the fearsome Blackbeard (Edward Teach).

The Sea Dogs were a group of sea-raiders and privateers who were authorized by Elizabeth I of England and active from 1560-1605. They also engaged in slave trading. They committed piracy in the Caribbean, Spanish colonies as well as in European waters.

It was during the reign of Elizabeth, the last of the Tudor sovereigns of England, that Englishmen won the command of the sea under the consummate leadership of Sir Francis Drake, the first of modern admirals. Drake and his companions are known to fame as Sea-Dogs.

Sea lion attacks on humans are rare, but when humans come within approximately 2.5 meters (8 ft), it can be very unsafe. In a highly unusual attack in 2007 in Western Australia, a sea lion leapt from the water and seriously mauled a 13-year-old girl surfing behind a speedboat.

But such human contact does more harm than good. Like our cherished Assateague ponies, seals are large wild animals and can be extremely dangerous. They will bite – and serious infections can be transmitted to you or your pet.

Are seals friendly? Seals are intelligent animals capable of forming social attachments. However, seals encountered on beaches are wild animals that are not accustomed to people and dogs, and they could become aggressive when approached.

Why do seals slap their bellies? You see, seals hear very low-frequency sounds, so a slap on the body or in the water is incredibly loud. It’s an alternative to barking or bellowing used by other seal species. It’s saying “I’m big, I’m strong, and I will bite you if you think you can take my piece of beach or my mate”.

Visual Communication. A harbor seal may slap the water or its own body with a pectoral flipper to show aggression, or during courtship.

Seals have a thick layer of fat called blubber that helps them to trap warmth in their bodies. Without this blubber they would not be able to stay warm in cold waters. The blubber acts as a form of insulation to keep their internal body temperatures warm.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said New Zealand said seals usually attack their prey by bringing it to the surface and slamming it against a hard surface.

At Sea. Seals are remarkably adapted to ocean living. These aquatic mammals have powerful sleek bodies that are encased in blubber and taper down into a tail. Their thick no-neck physiques and loosely interlocked vertebrae make them strong and flexible enough to surf the waves and navigate ice and rocky shores.

With their expressive grins and friendly dispositions, land dogs and water dogs, aka seals, don’t just look alike — a wildlife biologist tells Inverse they’re actually kind of related, evolutionarily speaking.

The bewhiskered marine mammal may have been sporting with the human interlopers, but it’s also quite likely that the octopus slam was an attempt to tenderize the meat for consumption. Sea lions and fur seals are known to hunt and eat octopuses, which are not easy prey to eat.

Numbness, nausea, vomiting, changes in vision, and difficulty swallowing. After approximately 10 minutes, the victim may have difficulty breathing, become paralyzed, and require artificial ventilation until they can be transported to a hospital.

Seals are carnivorous and, depending on species, eat fish, squid or krill. The leopard seal will also eat penguins and other seals.