Facts about Bearded Seal

1. 08

   A member of the family Phocidae, the bearded seal is the sole species in the genus Erignathus, making it monotypic.

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2. 07

   The scientific name of the bearded seal, Erignathus barbatus, reflects its most distinctive feature, with barbatus meaning 'bearded' in Latin.

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3. 06

   Bearded seal pups develop a layer of blubber comprising up to 50 percent of their body weight by the time they are weaned at three weeks old.

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4. 05

   In spring, bearded seals haul out on Arctic sea ice floes to give birth and nurse pups for only 18 days, one of the shortest lactation periods among pinnipeds.

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5. 04

   Around 6 meters long, bearded seals possess distinctive long whiskers containing sensory organs that detect vibrations from fish and crustaceans in murky Arctic waters.

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6. 03

   Bearded seals weigh between 400 and 550 kilograms, making them significantly larger than most other phocid seals except elephant seals and walruses.

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7. 02

   Male bearded seals produce underwater vocalizations reaching 180 decibels, among the loudest sounds made by any marine mammal during breeding season.

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8. 01

   These Arctic seals can dive to depths exceeding 300 meters and remain submerged for over 30 minutes while hunting for benthic prey on the ocean floor.

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