™™Common name: Bearded Seal
Scientific name: Family Phocidae:
Genus species: Erignathus barbatus
 | Size |
Size: 2.1 to 2.4 meters (6.8 to 8 feet)
Weight: 200 to 250 kg (441 to 551 pounds)
| What do they eat? |
Bearded seals eat a variety of crabs, shrimp, clams, fish, and octopus.
| What eats them? |
Predators of the bearded seal include polar bears, killer whales and bearded seal pups are sometimes eaten by walruses.
| Bearded seal Highlights: |
Bearded seals are found in arctic and subarctic waters. They are rarely found on land. They spend most of the time in the water in areas of unstable (moving) ice. They also sometimes "ride" on the moving ice. This means they usually sleep in the water or on the ice. Pups are born on the ice.
The name "bearded" refers to the long whiskers of the seal. When they're dry, the whiskers curl around the mouth. Bearded seals can be gray to dark brown.
Bearded seals are also usually found alone. Like other seals, though, when seen in the company of other seals - they're just in the "same place at the same time" (not actually socializing). Kind of like when we go to the store. There may be other people there, but we're not with them.
Bearded seals have thick claws. They use their claws, while under water to dig through the ice to create a hole to breathe air. These holes are often called, "breathing holes."
How do they avoid predators? Bearded seals are camouflaged. They can also dive under water to or climb up on the ice to avoid danger. However, it is hard for any animal to hide from a polar bear because they can go on land or in the water. They're known to hunt seals from their breathing holes, too. And, killer whales are known to slide out on to ice floes or tip them over to capture prey. I guess their best protection is not to be at the same place at the same time as a predator!
Tubby, tubby two by four....and it's a good thing! How do you stay warm when you swim with the ice? Bearded seals can have blubber as thick as 7 cm. From late fall to the early spring the bearded seals are their fattest. During this time they're almost as wide as they are long. In fact, their "waist" measurement can be as much as 83% of their body length. No wonder polar bears and killer whales hunt them!
FISHIN'
FOR FACTS
BACK TO THE SEABED