By Cindy Felcher
Geographic Range
The ringed seal is the most common seal in the Arctic. This species is rarely found on the open sea, but instead is prefers areas where the ice is firm. It is found along Pacific Japanese coasts, the northern parts of the Baltic Sea, Canada, Alaska, and Siberia (Harris 1991).
Biogeographic Regions:
nearctic 
(native ); palearctic (native ); arctic ocean (native ).
Habitat
The preferred habitat of P. hispida is areas that freeze to stable ice in winter (Kingsley 1990). This species lives in darkness under ice for several months during the year (Hyvarinen 1988). Ringed seals make lairs in the snow and ice for protection from predators and thermal shelter. They can occupy ice covered areas by maintaining breathing holes and breathing through cracks in the ice. Ringed seals make their lairs by rubbing away the ice with their fore flippers (Smith and Stirling 1975).
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
polar ; saltwater or marine .
Terrestrial Biomes:
icecap.
Aquatic Biomes:
coastal .
Physical Description
(143 to 209 lbs)
Adult ringed seals are 140-150 cm in length, and females are generally slightly smaller than males. Pusa hispida is similar in shape and color to common seals, but it is generally darker. The belly is silver gray color and the dorsal side is pale gray with dark spots that are surrounded with pale colored rings (Harris 1991).
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry .
Sexual dimorphism: male larger.
Reproduction
Females generally breed once yearly.
Most mating occurs in late April and early May.
Males are thought to be polygynous and probably hold underwater territories.
Mating systems:
polygynous .
The female ringed seal matures reproductively at about 6 years of age and may bear one pup per year (Kingsley 1990). Most mating occurs in late April and early May, which is within one month of parturition (Frost and Lowry 1981). Although mating occurs in May, the blastocyst does not implant until August or September. The gestation period is approximately 240 days (Kingsley 1990). Ringed seals require solid ice for pupping, which makes the pups more vulnerable to predators.
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous ; delayed implantation .
Behavior
Adult seals are solitary except for loose feeding aggregations in the water in summer. Starting in mid-May, ringed seals haul out onto the ice and bask in the sun. They moult at this time and do not feed very much (Kingsley 1990). Groups of seals at haul out sites are large and seals lying on the ice are vigilant and aggressive.
Key behaviors:
natatorial ; motile ; solitary .
Food Habits
Ringed seals spend most of their time feeding from late summer to early spring (Frost and Lowry 1981). During the spring and summer, Pusa hispida feeds on saffron cod (Eleginus gracilis), various shrimps, hypeni amphipods, and euphausiids. In the fall, Pusa hispida eats mostly saffron cod, and from winter to early spring, ringed seals feed mainly on Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) (Lowry et al. 1980).
Animal Foods:
fish; aquatic crustaceans.
Predation
- polar bears (Ursus maritimus)
- humans (Homo sapiens)
- foxes (Vulpes)
Ringed seals are preyed on by humans and polar bears in the Arctic. Pups are taken by bears, foxes, and humans when they are in the birth lair (Hammill and Smith 1991). As a result of strong predation, ringed seal pups spend a large proportion of time in the water and learn to dive at an extremely young age (Lydersen and Hammill 1993).
Ecosystem Roles
Pusa hispida is an important source of food for humans, dogs, foxes, and polar bears in the Arctic.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The ringed seal is also used by Inuit for fuel and clothing (Kingsley 1990). Newly moulted ringed seal pups are hunted by Canadian fur traders for their pelts (Frost and Lowry 1981).
Ways that people benefit from these animals:
food ; body parts are source of valuable material.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Lower Risk - Least Concern.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
Pusa hispida is a very common species and, as of now, there are no measures to protect it The habitat is protected as it is the same habitat as the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). The ringed seal is an important part of the polar bear's diet (Kingsley 1990).
For More Information
Find Pusa hispida information at
Contributors
Cindy Felcher (author), University of Michigan.
