# Ringed Seal (*Pusa hispida*) Ringed seals are playful animals that live in cold waters. They have special spots that help them blend in with the ice and snow around them. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Also known as:** Nerpa, Ringed Seal Pup ![Ringed Seal](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424683/objects/4509.jpg) ## Appearance The Ringed Seal is a small seal with a round head and a chunky body. Its dark grey fur is covered in distinctive light grey or white ring-like patterns. These rings, often edged with darker coloration, make it unique among Arctic seals. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Phocidae - **Genus:** Pusa ## Interesting facts - A ringed seal can recognize its own breathing hole among many others! - Baby ringed seals are born with fluffy white fur for camouflage. - Their special blood stores extra oxygen for amazing underwater dives. - They are the smallest true seals found in the Arctic waters. ## Special abilities - **Ice Master:** Ringed Seals can use strong claws and teeth to maintain breathing holes in thick Arctic ice, helping them survive harsh winters. - **Blubber Armor:** Ringed Seals have a thick layer of blubber that keeps them super warm in icy polar waters and stores energy. - **Snow Den Builder:** Ringed Seals create cozy snow dens on ice to protect their pups from predators and harsh Arctic weather. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 110-160 cm - **Weight:** 50-70 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-30 years - **Speed:** 19 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 270-330 days ## Diet & Feeding Ringed seals are fish-eaters that also enjoy small crustaceans in their cold Arctic home. - **Primary Foods:** Arctic cod, Herring, Amphipods, Euphausiids, Sculpins - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Polar Bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/polar-bear) (*Ursus maritimus*) — A primary predator, especially of pups. - **Eaten by:** [Arctic Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arctic-fox) (*Vulpes lagopus*) — Preys on pups in snow lairs. - **Eaten by:** [Orca](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orca) (*Orcinus orca*) — Hunts seals in open water. - **Hunts:** Arctic Cod (*Boreogadus saida*) — A main food source for the seal. ## 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:** 1/5 · Very low Always admire seals from a distance. They are wild animals and need their space. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ringed 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 Ringed Seal? 110-160 cm ### How much does Ringed Seal weigh? 50-70 kg ### How long does Ringed Seal live? 20-30 years ### How fast can Ringed Seal move? 19 km/h ### What does Ringed Seal eat? Ringed seals are fish-eaters that also enjoy small crustaceans in their cold Arctic home. ### How does Ringed Seal hunt? Pursuit ### How many babies does Ringed Seal usually have? 1 ## Where to spot - [Alaska SeaLife Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alaska-sealife-center) — Alaska, US · Zoo ## 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: [Ringed Seal: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ringed-seal)