Seals of the North Pole
Six species of seal are found around the Arctic: ribbon, bearded, ringed, spotted, hooded and harp seals. These species are often referred to as ice seals, as they spend most of their lives on or near the sea ice of the North Pole. These incredible marine mammals have adapted to life in an extreme habitat – they are covered in fur and have a thick layer of blubber to help them survive in the cold. Some of their babies are even white and fluffy when they are born to help them camouflage into the surrounding snow.
Arctic Seal Profiles
Name: Ribbon seal
Size: 5 to 6 feet long
Appearance: Recognisable by the white line that wraps around their body
Name: Bearded seal
Size: 7 to 8 feet long
Appearance: Long whiskers that look like a beard
Name: Ringed seal
Size: 4 to 4.5 feet long
Appearance: Pattern of dark spots surrounded by light grey rings
Name: Spotted seal
Size: 5 to 6 feet long
Appearance: Dark, irregular spots against a lighter background
Name: Hooded seal
Size: 6.5 to 8.5 feet long
Appearance: Silver-grey or white with black spots. Males have balloon-like sac between their eyes
Name: Harp seals
Size: 5 to 6 feet long
Appearance: Black patch on their back that is the shape of a harp
We hope you enjoyed reading about Arctic seals. Do you have a mini marine biologist ready to start their ocean exploring journey?
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