Spotted seal
Spotted seal | |
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In Echizen Matsushima Aquarium, Japan | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Clade: | Pinnipedia |
Family: | Phocidae |
Genus: | Phoca |
Species: | P. largha
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Binomial name | |
Phoca largha Pallas, 1811
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Spotted seal distribution |
The spotted seal (Phoca largha),
The reduction in arctic ice floes due to
Etymology
The scientific name originated in the Greek word for seal, phoce, and larga, the term used by the
Description
The spotted seal is of the family, Phocidae, or "true seals". Compared to other true seals, they are intermediate in size, with mature adults of both sexes generally weighing between 82–109 kg (180–240 lb) and measuring 150–210 cm (59–83 in), roughly the same size as a harbor seal or ribbon seal. The head of a spotted seal is round, with a narrow snout resembling that of a dog.[4]
The spotted seal has a relatively small body and short flippers extending behind the body that provide thrust, while the small flippers in front act as rudders. The dense fur varies in color from silver to gray and white and is characterized by dark, irregular spots against the lighter background and covering the entire body. Males and females differ little in size or shape. In places where their habitat overlaps with that of the harbor seal, they can be confused with them, as in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Like harbor seals, spotted seals have 34 teeth.[4][7]
Distribution and habitat
Spotted seals are inhabitants of arctic or sub-arctic waters, often in the outer areas of
Spotted seals are separated into three populations. The
Behavior and reproduction
Spotted seals are relatively shy and are difficult for humans to approach. They can be solitary in general but are gregarious and form large groups during pupping and molting seasons when they haul out on ice floes or, lacking ice, on land. The numerically largest groups in Alaska are at Kasegaluk Lagoon in the Chukchi Sea, near Cape Espenburg in Kotzebue Sound, and in Kuskokwim Bay on sandbars and shoals, where several thousand may collect.[4]
Sexual maturity is attained around the age of four. January to mid-April is the breeding season. Pup births peak in mid-March. Spotted seals are believed annually monogamous, and during breeding season, they form "families" made up of a male, female, and their pup, born after a 10-month gestation period. Average birth size is 100 cm (39 in) and 12 kg (26 lb).[8] Pups are weaned six weeks later. The maximum lifespan of the spotted seal is 35 years with few living beyond 25.[7][8]
Spotted seals dive to depths up to 300 m (980 ft) while feeding on a variety of ocean prey. Juveniles eat primarily
Based on satellite tracking conducted on Yellow Sea population, it was revealed that seals migrate more than 3,300 km (2,100 mi).[9]
Conservation status
On March 28, 2008, the U.S.
In China, the spotted seal was under class-II national protection in the past,[citation needed] but the protection level was raised to class-I in 2021.[12] The main threats to the species in China are global warming, marine traffic, industry noise, ocean pollution, and poaching for aquarium exhibition.[13]
In South Korea, spotted seals have been designated Natural Monument No. 331[14] and second-class endangered species.[15] An environmental activist group Green Korea United is currently working closely with local Chinese government to stop the seals from being poached by Chinese fishermen.[16]
See also
References
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Phoca vitulina largha Pallas, 1811. Integrated Taxonomic Information System
- ^ Saundry, Peter (2010). Spotted seal. Encyclopedia of Earth. topic ed. C.Michael Hogan. ed in chief C. Cleveland, National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington DC
- ^ a b c d e f g h
Burns, John J. (1994). "Spotted Seal: Wildlife Notebook Series – Alaska Department of Fish and Game". www.adfg.state.ak.us. Archived from the original on 2009-03-24. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "National Marine Mammal Laboratory". www.afsc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
- ^ a b "NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – NOAA Will Not List Bering Spotted Seal as Endangered or Threatened". www.noaanews.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
- ^ a b c d "Spotted Seal (Phoca largha) – Office of Protected Resources – NOAA Fisheries". www.nmfs.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
- ^ a b Wynne, Kate. "Spotted (Largha) Seal – Alaska Sea Grant". seagrant.uaf.edu. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
- ^ 점박이물범, 연해주서 중국 발해만까지 이동. yonhapnews.co.kr (2014-01-14)
- ^ Cottingham, David (March 28, 2008). "Marine Mammals; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" (PDF). Federal Register. 73 (61): 16617. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
- ^ Joling, Dan (October 15, 2009). "Feds deny protection for spotted seals near Alaska – Yahoo! News". Associated Press via The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Eight spotted seals released into sea in Dalian". Xinhua. 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
- ^ "Rise in poaching of spotted seals poses threat to maritime ecosystem". China Daily. 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
- ^ "천연기념물 제331호 점박이물범" (in Korean). heritage.go.kr. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "국립생물자원관 한반도의 생물다양성 - 물범" (in Korean). species.nibr.go.kr. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ Green Korea United :: Poaching for 1000 Spotted Seals, Wailing of Spotted Seals Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. Green-korea.tistory.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-15.
External links
- Alaska Department of Fish & Game
- SCS – The Seal Conservation Society
- "Spotted (Largha) Seal – Alaska Sea Grant". seagrant.uaf.edu. Retrieved 2009-10-16.