Arctic seal

The Arctic ringed seal is a subspecies of ringed seals (Pusa hispida). Arctic ringed seals inhabit the Arctic Ocean, and are the most abundant and wide-ranging seal in the Northern Hemisphere. The ringed seal species is the smallest true seal, and gets its name from a distinctive patterning of light spots on dark grey colored fur. The ringed seal is commonly preyed upon by Polar bears, Arctic foxes, and Killer whales. Population estimates and survival rates are unknown, but average life expectancy is 15-28 years. Ringed seals have long been a component of the diet of indigenous people of the Arctic. Arctic ringed seals have been listed as threatened on the Endangered Species Act since 2012, and increasingly face loss of their habitat due to shrinking ice and snow cover. The Arctic ringed seal shares a striking similarity with other species of ringed seals. It is characterized by a small head, a snout that resembles a cat's with whiskers, and a sturdy, elongated body. Its coat is typically dark with a silver-colored belly, marked by silver rings along its back and sides. This feature is what gives it the common name 'ringed seal'. They have strong claws on their fore flippers, which they use to pierce ice to create breathing holes. Depending on subspecies and sex, adult seals can vary in size, measuring from 100 to 175 cm (39.5 to 69 in) and weighing from 30 to 140 kg (70 to 310 lb). The seal averages about 5 ft (1.5 m) long. This species is the smallest species in the true seal family.

Source: Wikipedia