Name
- Common name: Ringed Seal
- Scientific name: Pusa hispida
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Phocidae
- Indigenous names for this species may be available through the Yukon Native Language Centre.
Also known as
Whitecoats
Viewing opportunities
- The waters off the North Slope of the Yukon and Herschel Island are the only place where you’ll spot these marine mammals.
Description
- Small seal with dark grey or blackish coat.
- Pale grey rings on the back and sides.
- Stomach is creamy yellow with black spots.
- Pups have a soft, crinkly white coat which gives them their nickname “whitecoats.”
Fast Facts
- Length: 1.4 m
- Weight: 91 kg
- Lifespan: 15 years
- Predators: Polar Bears, Orcas
- Habitat: Marine and Coastal
Conservation status
- Yukon: S3 (Vulnerable)
- Global: G5 (Secure)
Yukon population estimate
Not determined.
Behaviour
All Yukon seals are phocids or “true seals.” They are sometimes called “crawling seals” because they do not “walk” on their flippers like sea lions, but rather waddle on their bellies when on land. Ringed Seals are primarily solitary though sometimes found in loose groups.
Diet
Crustacean macro-plankton, some small fish, crabs and prawns.
Distribution
Seals and people
- Marine mammals have long be a staple in the diet of Inuit peoples.
- Their skin is tough and warm, making excellent clothing that is waterproof.