Spotted Seal: Phoca largha (Pallas, 1811)
An Ice seal of the North Pacific to the Chukchi Sea
Size
- Average adult 1.6m (5 feet), 90kg (220 pounds); max. 130kg (290 pounds)
Color & Characteristics
- Silver sides, darker back
- Dark irregular spots on back and sides
Habitat
- Central and western North Atlantic-Arctic
- Associated with edge of pack ice
Feeding
- Schooling fish, epibenthic fish, crabs, cephalopods
Life cycle
- Size at birth 0.8-1m (2.5-3.3 ft), 8kg (20 lbs)
- Sexual maturity at 3-5 years
- Females have pups every year
- Longevity 30-35 years
Behavior
- Seasonally ice associated
- Gregarious outside breeding season
- Poorly known compared to other seals
Page Author: Lloyd Lowry & Bodil Bluhm
Created: Aug 24, 2008
