Ringed Seal

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Family: Phocidae

Order: Carnivora

Genus: Pusa

Species: Hispida

Evolution

Subspecies

Arctic ringed seal
Saimaa ringed seal
Baltic seal
Ladoga ringed seal

Closest Living Relative

The Baikal seal

When did They Evolve?

During the last glaciation 11,000 years ago

Ancestor's of this Species

Puijila
Boreoeutheria
Potamotherium

Description

Physical Description: Small head, larger body, muzzle like a cat’s, dark fur with light rings.

Key features: light circular rings on the body

Size: 4- 5.5 feet

Weight: 160 pounds

Life Span: 25-30 years

Males: Larger, Darker face

Females: Smaller, have a lighter face

Habbitat

Range

Ringed seals live in the Arctic Ocean and live in some seas surrounding the ocean. They are not invasive species. Ringed seals live on the sea ice and chatch food in the water.

Plants That Live There

Phytoplankton
Seaweed
Seagrasses
algae

Animals That Live There

Polar Bears
Walrus
Harp Seal
beluga whale
Arctic Cod

Habitat Description

Rain Fall: 24 to 29 in

Temperatures: The surface temp of the water is 28.8º F, land temps are 50ºF in the summer, and in the winter it is -32º F to -31ºF

Terrain: Mostly Ice and Icebergs and the ocean floor is made out of oceanic crust

Deit

Prey species

Invertebrates
Fish
Amphipods

Specialized

Arctic Cod
Saffron Cod
Srimp

How And When Does It Eat

Ringed seals seem to eat whenever they can but they do slow down there food intake in the spring when they are molting. Ringed seals hunt under the ice and target schollings of fish.

Ringed Seals Life

Social Structure

Ringed seals are mostly solo animals, but during there molting time which is also there breading season in the spring they hang around each other by a crack in the ice or a breathing hole. this is the only time ringed seals interact with each other.

Reproduction

How often they mate: Annually

How many mates: One male mating with multiple female

Time of year for mating: Spring

Mating rituals: Chasing, and biting neck and flippers

Number of offspring: One pup

Unique characteristics: They use a layer under the snow for a birth layer

Development

Stages of development: They start out with a white coat when they are born and when they shed that they get the signature ringed coat.

Sexual maturity age females: 3.2-6

Sexual maturity age males: 8-10

Molting: In May and June

Males: Are larger than females

Females: Are smaller than males

Causes Of Death

Predators: Polar Bears, Walruses, and killer whales

Diseases: Ringed Seals carry tones of human diseases.

Other Dangers: Melting sea ice, fishing nets, and human hunting.

Competition

Within The Spices: Mates, dominance, food, and territory

With Other Spices: Polar Bears, other seals, killer whales, and humans

Competition For: Food, space, breathing holes, and right to live

Invasive Spices: No Noted Invasive Spices

IUCN Rating

Rating: Least Concerned

Population: Over 300,000

Population Trend: Ringed sea population is starting to decline

Impact of Humans

Impacts on Ringed Seals: Ringed seals get trapped in fishing nets, pollution, and melting ice caps

Future Impacts: If the ice caps keep melting there will be no where for the seals to live because they relay on sea ice for survival.

How Long Have We Interacted With The species: From when we first discovered the species

Conservation Efforts: We can educate are self and remember to keep our distance from these spectacular animals. We can also make sure are fishing nets are safe and regularly checked to reduce seal and other marine wildlife death.

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