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Pinniped Species
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Bearded Seal -
Caribbean Monk Seal -
Crabeater Seal -
Caspian Seal -
Gray Seal -
Harbor Seal -
Harp Seal -
Hawaiian Monk Seal -
Hooded Seal -
Leopard seal -
Mediterranean Monk Seal -
Northern Elephant Seal -
Ribbon Seal -
Ringed Seal -
Southern Elephant Seal -
Spotted Seal -
Weddel Seal
All
x
- – No known individuals remaining.
- – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.
- – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
- – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
- – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a higher risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
- – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction.
- – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.
Ringed Seal
- – No known individuals remaining.
- – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.
- – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
- – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
- – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a higher risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
- – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction.
- – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.
Males & Females – 5 ft
Males – 150 lbs
Females – 110 lbs
Ringed seals are found all in the Northern Hemisphere.
Ringed seals are named for the silver rings on their backs and sides. They are the smallest and most common seal in the Arctic. They have small front flippers with very strong claws to maintain holes to breathe in their thick ice habitat.
Several species of fish and invertebrates: mysids, arctic cod, shrimp, and herring.
Ringed seals are found living on pack ice in cold arctic waters.
The breeding season for Ringed seals is in the spring. Males are observed to be monogamous breeders. Females reach sexual maturity at about 4 years of age and males not until about 7 years of age. Females make structures in the thick ice and give birth to their pups in these lairs. Pups are weaned after one month.
The Ringed seals are on the Low Risk-least concern list.
The most concerning threat to them is climate change due to their lives depending on thick ice. These seals are also often caught as by-catch.
Polar bears prefer to prey on Ringed seals.
