Specy

Hooded Seal

Mammals

The hooded seal, also called the bladdernose seal, is a large phocid seal restricted to the central and western North Atlantic, from Svalbard in the east to the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the west, and the only species in the genus Cystophora. Adults are silver-grey or white with variable black spotting, while pups, known as bluebacks for their blue-grey backs and whitish bellies, shed this natal coat after about 14 months.

Facts
Scientific Name
Cystophora cristata 4
Conservation Status
Endangered 6
Body Size Band
Large 7
Activity Pattern
Diurnal 7
Activity Pattern
Crepuscular 7
Lifespan
35 8
Classification
Diet
Piscivore 1
System (Realm)
Marine 2
Relationship to People
Hunted or Fished 3
Living or Extinct
Yes 4
Comparison
NatureServe Rank
G5 Secure 5
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 3
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Phocidae, Taxa
Source Hooded Seal (Wikidata)

In Biome

Open Ocean, Biomes
Source NatureServe Explorer: Cystophora cristata

In Ecosystem

Svalbard, Ecosystems
Source Hooded seal (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Belgium

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Canada

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Denmark

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

North America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Spain

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
  • Diet: Piscivore
2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species API
  • System (Realm): Marine
View the Source
3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Cystophora cristata (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  • Conservation Status: CITES
    CITES No special status
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Positive (hunted-fished)
    Hooded seals have played an important role in subsistence for the natives of Greenland and Canada who hunt these seals for a source of food
View the Source
4. Hooded Seal (Wikidata)
Wikidata
  • Wikidata Q214287 (P225 taxon name)
  • Statements section, conservation status (P141)
    IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): vulnerable.
  • Child Taxon Of: Phocidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source
5. NatureServe Explorer: Cystophora cristata
NatureServe Explorer
  • Global rank (roundedGRank)
    "roundedGRank": "G5"
  • In Biome: Open Ocean, Species characteristics: Pelagic
    "marineHabitatDescEn": "Pelagic"
View the Source
6. Hooded seal (Wikipedia)
  • Infobox: status
    EN
  • In Ecosystem: Svalbard, Wikipedia intro: "hora cristata) is a large phocid found only in the central and western North Atlantic, ranging from Svalbard in the east to the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the west..."
View the Source
7. Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 mammal diet data
Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)
  • Row: cystophora cristata
    4948 Cystophora cristata Phocidae 20 0 0 80 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_49 ABC M A 0 1 1 Ref_3 D2 288333.5 Ref_117 1
  • MamFuncDat.txt row Cystophora cristata, Activity columns
    Cystophora cristata Phocidae 20 0 0 80 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_49 ABC M A 0 1 1
View the Source
8. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Cystophora cristata
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolObservations
Quote, Observations
In the wild, these animals have been estimated to live more than 35 years
View the Source
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