Ringed seals can grow up to 5 feet long and 150 pounds. Their coats are light gray with spots of black. The black spots are surrounded by lighter ring markings, which is how the seal was named. They have small plump bodies with small heads and small, narrow snouts.
A ringed seal pokes its head through a hole in the sea ice.
Ringed seals live throughout the Arctic Ocean and can be found in the Baltic Sea, Bering Sea, and Hudson Bay. These seals depend on the sea ice. The ice gives them a chance to get out of the water to rest. Ringed seals also occupy areas under the sea ice, areas that other seals can't reach. The ringed seal is able to create breathing holes through the ice by scratching with the claws on their front flippers.
What do ringed seals eat?
Ringed seals spend the summer months along the edge of the sea ice, eating arctic cod. Their other primary source of food is crustaceans. They are able to make deep and long dives, going as deep as 300 ft and staying under the water for up to 45 minutes.
What eats ringed seals?
Polar bears are the ringed seal's main predator, but they have developed ways to hide from the polar bear. They can avoid polar bears by spending so much time under the sea ice. When they come up to breathe at their breathing holes, they will actually blow bubbles first, to make sure it is safe. They will also dig out caves under the snow and ice. These caves have breathing holes too, and a hole to access the water underneath--so a seal could swim in and out of their snow cave without having to come out on the surface of the ice. Other predators to the ringed seal are arctic foxes, orcas, walruses, and humans. The Inuit have hunted ringed seals for a long time, depending on their meat, blubber, and coats for making clothing.
Links about ringed seals:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringed_seal http://www.pinnipeds.org/species/ringed.htm http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pusa_hispida.html http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/ringed
What do ringed seals eat?
Ringed seals spend the summer months along the edge of the sea ice, eating arctic cod. Their other primary source of food is crustaceans. They are able to make deep and long dives, going as deep as 300 ft and staying under the water for up to 45 minutes.
What eats ringed seals?
Polar bears are the ringed seal's main predator, but they have developed ways to hide from the polar bear. They can avoid polar bears by spending so much time under the sea ice. When they come up to breathe at their breathing holes, they will actually blow bubbles first, to make sure it is safe. They will also dig out caves under the snow and ice. These caves have breathing holes too, and a hole to access the water underneath--so a seal could swim in and out of their snow cave without having to come out on the surface of the ice. Other predators to the ringed seal are arctic foxes, orcas, walruses, and humans. The Inuit have hunted ringed seals for a long time, depending on their meat, blubber, and coats for making clothing.
Notice the spots on the ringed seal's coat.
Female seals will give birth to pups in these caves. Pups are usually born during late March or early April. They only have one pup at a time. The pup will spend about 2 months with its mother.Links about ringed seals:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringed_seal http://www.pinnipeds.org/species/ringed.htm http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pusa_hispida.html http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/ringed
Ringed Seals are cool animals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How can a little guy be so big.
I would love to see all this with you guys.
You should put more about seals on this website.
They are so smart.This website is cool.
i have been reading more about seals.I think it is
there blubber like other seals.
those are so cool. it must be fun studying them it would be fun to see this for real.
i love this animal becaue of the way the skin is its nice and soft!