# Spotted Seal (*Phoca largha*) The Spotted Seal is a playful marine mammal found in cold waters. They have beautiful spots on their fur and love to swim and dive in the ocean. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Largha Seal, Spotted Phoca ![Spotted Seal](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Spotted_seal_mother_and_pup_in_the_Bering_Sea.jpg&width=800) Photo: NOAA Fisheries, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spotted_seal_mother_and_pup_in_the_Bering_Sea.jpg) ## Appearance The Spotted Seal has a round head and a stocky body. Its fur ranges from silvery-grey to dark grey, heavily covered with distinctive dark, irregular spots that often merge on its back and sides. These spots make it visually distinct from the more uniform coloration of other seal species like the Ribbon Seal. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Phocidae - **Genus:** Phoca ## Interesting facts - Spotted Seal pups are born with a fluffy white coat, shedding it after a few weeks! - Spotted Seals can even sleep underwater, taking short naps near ice breathing holes. - Their eyes see well in dim light, helping them hunt for food in the deep, dark ocean. - These seals mostly live alone, gathering only to breed and raise their young! ## Special abilities - **Super Sniffer Whiskers:** Spotted Seals have highly sensitive whiskers to detect prey in dark or murky water by sensing tiny vibrations. - **Ice Home Builder:** Spotted Seals use strong claws to create and maintain breathing holes in ice, allowing them access to food and air. - **Deep Dive Master:** Spotted Seals can hold their breath for 30 minutes and dive over 200 meters to hunt for food deep underwater. - **Blubber Armor:** Spotted Seals have thick blubber to keep them warm in freezing Arctic waters and provide energy when food is scarce. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 150-210 cm - **Weight:** 65-150 kg - **Lifespan:** 25-30 years - **Speed:** 27 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 315-330 days ## Diet & Feeding Spotted Seals mostly enjoy a feast of fish and small creatures found in the ocean! - **Primary Foods:** walleye pollock, pacific cod, herring, octopus, squid, shrimp - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Orca](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orca) (*Orcinus orca*) — Apex predator that hunts seals. - **Eaten by:** [Polar Bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/polar-bear) (*Ursus maritimus*) — Hunts seals on ice platforms. - **Hunts:** Walleye Pollock (*Gadus chalcogrammus*) — A primary food source for seals. - **Hunts:** [Pacific Cod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pacific-cod) (*Gadus macrocephalus*) — Another important fish in their diet. ## Traits - [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. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [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. - [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. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch seals from a distance and never try to touch them, as they are wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Spotted 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 Spotted Seal? 150-210 cm ### How much does Spotted Seal weigh? 65-150 kg ### How long does Spotted Seal live? 25-30 years ### How fast can Spotted Seal move? 27 km/h ### What does Spotted Seal eat? Spotted Seals mostly enjoy a feast of fish and small creatures found in the ocean! ### Where is Spotted Seal usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Spotted Seal hunt? Pursuit ## 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: [Spotted Seal: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-seal)