Ringed Seal

Pusa hispida (Phoca hispida)

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
AMAJG08010
Common Name: 
Ringed Seal
Scientific Name: 
Pusa hispida (Phoca hispida)
Synonyms: 
Phoca hispida
Naming References: 
B149
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Marine Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Carnivora
Family: 
Phocidae
References: 
B001
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

4-8 years
References: 
B054
BSC2

Longevity

up to 43 years (as estimated by teeth)
References: 
B001

Economic/Human Considerations

very important to the Inuit
References: 
B001
Habitat
land-fast ice and the solid ice over the Arctic Ocean, preferring areas of high ice cover
References: 
B001
R056
H135
Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean
References: 
BSC1

Distribution

Beaufort Sea (COSEWIC 2019)
Score: 
G
Marine Distribution Description: 
1

Number of Occurrences

References: 
H135

Area of Occupancy

stable
Score: 
-
References: 
H135
Population

Population Size

500,000: in COSEWIC 2019: "Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (Canada, USA, Russian Federation) 1,000,000 Frost et al. (2004); Bengtson et al. (2005) Kelly et al. (2010a) (and Laidre et al. 2015) considered 1,000,000 seals a “reasonable estimate” for the total population, including at least 50,000 in Canadian waters, with an unknown trend."
Score: 
G
References: 
B001

Density

from 0.2 to 0.9 per square kilometre (depending on habitat)
Trends

Trends

unknown
Score: 
U
References: 
H135
Threats

Threats

climate change; year to year variation in pup condition; contaminants, Hunting but appear limited threat; COSEWIC 2019 threat calculator: High -low overall.
Score: 
BD
References: 
H126
R056

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Score: 
-
References: 
H126
R056
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
S Rank: 
S4
Decision Process Description: 
Reviewed in 2010; no change; Reviewed in 2015; no change (DFO);; Reviewed in 2020, no change, still apparently secure in the Beaufort Sea, even if assessed as Special Concern in Canada (2019) due to overall threats from climate change
Last Updated: 
June 13, 2020
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Special Concern
2019

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Smith TG (1973) Population dynamics of the ringed seal in the Canadian eastern Arctic. Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin 181 RWED Library Call #QL737.P64S6 - B054 Return
  • Wilson, Don. E and Ruff, S. (eds) (1999) The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. UBC Press 750 pp. RWED Library Call#QL715.S64 - BSC2 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Economic Status

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Ecozones

  • Forsyth, Adrian (1999) Mammals of North America Temperate and Arctic Regions. Firefly Books RWED Library Call#QL715.F67 - BSC1 Return

Habitat

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • Kingsley MCS, Stirling I, and Calvert W (1982) The distribution and abundance of seals in the high Arctic, 1980 - 1981. Canadian Wildlife Service RWED Library Call #QL737.P64S74 - R056 Return
  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Kingsley MCS, Stirling I, and Calvert W (1982) The distribution and abundance of seals in the high Arctic, 1980 - 1981. Canadian Wildlife Service RWED Library Call #QL737.P64S74 - R056 Return

Longevity

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Naming

  • Baker, R. J., L. C. Bradley, R. D. Bradley, J. W. Dragoo, M. D. Engstrom, R. S. Hoffman, C. A. Jones, F. Reid, D. W. Rice, and C. Jones. (2003) Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 2003.. Museum of Texas Tech University Occasional Papers 229:1-23. - B149 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Population Size

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Taxonomy

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Threats

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Kingsley MCS, Stirling I, and Calvert W (1982) The distribution and abundance of seals in the high Arctic, 1980 - 1981. Canadian Wildlife Service RWED Library Call #QL737.P64S74 - R056 Return