Erignathus barbatus
bearded seal

Bearded seals are found in the waters around Alaska, the Arctic Ocean and in the "areas of the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas where the ice forms during the winter" (Burns, 1994). They have also been known to go as far as China, Tokyo Bay, Scotland and northern Spain (Macdonald, 1985). (Burns, 1994; Macdonald, 1985)

Bearded seals prefer shallow, arctic waters less than 200 meters in depth. They also prefer broken, drifting patches of ice, although they readily adapt to dense, slow moving ice by making breathing holes. During the warmer months they sometimes climb ashore to gravel beaches. (Nowak, 1999; Parker, 1990; Seal Conservation Society, 1999)

Bearded seals have a gray or brown coat that is darker on their back than their underside. They are heaviest in the winter and early spring when they can weigh up to approximately 360 kg, although the largest they get is when a female is pregnant. In the spring, they decrease their food intake and loose some of their blubber and mass, weighing 216 kg to 239 kg. Adults are generally the same size, though females may be slightly longer (adults average about 2.4 m to 2.5 m). The large body mass makes their round head and flippers look even smaller in comparison. Their large, wide muzzle contrasts with their small close set eyes. Bearded seals have long white whiskers, hence their name. At the end of each flipper are equal length digits (sometimes the third digit is slightly larger) which gives them a square appearance. The claws on the digits are very strong, unlike those on the hind flippers. Unlike most other earless seals, which have two retractable teats, bearded seals have four.

Pups are similar in color to adults but have a lighter face and a back that has broad,light colored stripes. A dark line extending from the head to between the eyes is sometimes apparent. They are about half of the size of the adults when born (about 1.3m) and weigh much less (about 30 or 40kg). (Jefferson, 1993, SCS, Haley, 1978) (Burns, 1994; Haley, 1978; Jefferson, Leatherwood, and Webber, 1993; Nowak, 1999)

Female life spans can be up to 31 years while males usually live about 25 years.

Bearded seals give birth on pack ice in mid-March to late April. Shortly after birth, pups are able to swim and can dive 75 meters deep to escape polar bears. Pups put on weight quickly, especially during the 12 to 18 days of nursing. Pups molt into the adult coat around the time of weaning, which occurs when it reaches approximately 85kg. "After the breeding season, many seals migrate northward with the retreating ice, returning southward again as the ice advances in autumn and winter" (Jefferson, 1993).

These solitary creatures are seen resting on floating ice with their head facing downward into the water. This is so they can quickly escape into the sea if pursued by a predator. Bearded seals ram their head into thin ice in order to create breathing holes. They have been known to dive to a depth of 200 meters, however, they mainly feed in shallow waters. (Burns, 1994; Haley, 1978; Jefferson, Leatherwood, and Webber, 1993; Macdonald, 1985; Nowak, 1999)

Males of this species sing an audible, underwater song during breeding season. Their song consists of "a long, oscillating warble that may last for more than one minute, followed by a short, low-frequency moan. This sound is known to be made only by mature males during the spring and may be a proclamation of territory or breeding condition" (Nowak, 1999). (Nowak, 1999)

Bearded seals eat invertebrates and fish that occur in the shallow marine areas they inhabit. By using their sensitive whiskers, they are able to easily track their favorite food items such as crabs, shrimp, clams, and snails. (Grzimek's,1990, Nowak, 1999)

The dominant predators of bearded seals are polar bears. These seals, when on shore, stay close to the edge of the water for a quick escape if disturbed. They are also hunted in the water by killer whales. (Seal Conservation Society, 1999)

Bearded seals are often hunted for their hides and are an important component of arctic peoples' diet. "Bearded seal meat is the most desirable of the seals, and the hides are necessary for boat covers, raw-hide line, boot soles, and numerous other uses" (Burns, 1994). Seals are most successfully hunted in the spring when boats are able to move through the broken ice and when seals are migrating north. Bearded seals were previously hunted for their intestines to make waterproof clothing and blubber to obtain lamp oil. (Burns, 1994, Nowak, 1999)

Bearded seal populations seem to be stable, estimated population size, excluding Canada and Norway, is 500,000. However, they are difficult to count and there are some concerns that the population may be declining as a result of habitat loss and other disturbances. Their habitats are in danger from global warming, pollution from oil and gas extraction, and boat traffic. Also, "there is a potential for conflict between bearded seals and commercial fisheries, particularly in the central Bering Sea for species such as Tanner crabs, pink shrimp and clams, all components of the bearded seal diet" (SCS).

(SCS, Grzimek's,1990, Nowak, 1999)