Least ConcernBearded Seal
Erignathus barbatus
One of the 13 seals on WAnimals
Mammals · Carnivora · Phocidae
Cystophora cristata
At high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term.
The hooded seal is a large seal of the North Atlantic that spends most of the year on the open sea, diving to great depth in search of fish and squid. It gathers on drifting ice to give birth and mate in an extremely brief period. The males have two spectacular nasal ornaments that they use in courtship displays and in confrontations. Commercial hunting and, above all, the retreat of the seasonal ice it depends on for breeding have caused its decline.
Weight
145 kg – 300 kg
Size
2 m – 2.6 m
Life expectancy
35 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Moderate
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystophora_cristata
The pins mark the parks and dive sites where its presence is documented.
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 13 of 18.
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Hooded Seal — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
The hooded seal is classified as vulnerable. Organisations such as the IUCN, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programmes is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 6 protected areas — one reason why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Based on what we already know about hooded seal.
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