# Bearded Seal (*Erignathus barbatus*) Bearded seals are friendly animals that love to swim in cold ocean waters. They have whiskers that look like beards, which help them feel around in the water. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Also known as:** Square Flipper Seal ![Bearded Seal](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426052/objects/4510.jpg) ## Appearance The Bearded Seal is a large, robust seal with a relatively small head. It has short, brownish-gray fur and famously long, pale, bristly whiskers that resemble a shaggy beard. Its powerful body tapers to broad hind flippers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Phocidae - **Genus:** Erignathus ## Interesting facts - Pups are born with a furry coat that helps them float on water easily! - Their scientific name, \*Erignathus barbatus\*, means 'deep-jawed bearded one'. - They hum and trill underwater, making unique, echoing songs! - Unlike other seals, they use all four flippers to swim slowly underwater. ## Special abilities - **Ice Breakers:** Bearded Seal can use its thick skull and powerful fore-flippers to break through ice for breathing holes. - **Deep Diver:** Bearded Seal can hold its breath for long periods, allowing it to dive deep to find food below the surface. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 210-270 cm - **Weight:** 200-360 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-25 years - **Speed:** 10 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 240-330 days ## Diet & Feeding They munch on small creatures found on the seafloor, like shrimp, crabs, and bottom-dwelling fish. - **Primary Foods:** shrimp, crabs, clams, cod, flatfish, octopus - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Polar Bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/polar-bear) (*Ursus maritimus*) — Major predator hunting seals on the ice. - **Hunts:** Killer Whale (*Orcinus orca*) — Marine apex predator, occasionally hunts seals. - **Eats:** Arctic Cod (*Boreogadus saida*) — Common fish prey found on the seafloor. - **Eats:** Snow Crab (*Chionoecetes opilio*) — Crabs are a favorite food of these seals. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Bearded seals are wild animals and should be admired from a distance. Always respect their space in nature. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bearded Seal? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Bearded Seal? 210-270 cm ### How much does Bearded Seal weigh? 200-360 kg ### How long does Bearded Seal live? 20-25 years ### How fast can Bearded Seal move? 10 km/h ### What does Bearded Seal eat? They munch on small creatures found on the seafloor, like shrimp, crabs, and bottom-dwelling fish. ### How does Bearded Seal hunt? Foraging ### How many babies does Bearded Seal usually have? 1 ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Bearded Seal: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bearded-seal)