The pineal gland is very large and active in newborn antarctic seals.
The pineal gland of newborn elephant seals and Weddell seals is larger than in adult females. The gland is considerably larger at birth in Weddell seals than in elephant seals. The former experience greater extremes of temperature. Plasma melatonin concentrations in excess of 2000 pg/ml were recorded in the first days of life, compared with 20-50 pg/ml in adults.
Bryden
M M
MM
Griffiths
D J
DJ
Kennaway
D J
DJ
Ledingham
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D010872:Caniformia / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood*; D009929:Organ Size; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology
D008550:Melatonin