Facts about Caspian Seal

1. 07

   Lactation in Caspian seals lasts approximately 4-6 weeks, among the shortest nursing periods of any pinniped species.

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2. 06

   Genetic studies reveal that Caspian seals share a common ancestor with ringed seals, diverging approximately 3.5 million years ago during the Pliocene epoch.

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3. 05

   The Caspian seal's diet consists primarily of small fish species like kilka and gobies, with adults consuming approximately 1.5 kilograms of food daily.

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4. 04

   During breeding season, Caspian seals haul out onto ice floes in the Caspian Sea to give birth to pups in late December through early January.

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5. 03

   Fewer than 100,000 Caspian seals remain in the Caspian Sea, their only habitat, making them one of the world's rarest marine mammals.

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6. 02

   Caspian seals weigh between 50 and 90 kilograms as adults, making them the smallest seal species in the world.

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7. 01

   In 1997, approximately 90 percent of the Caspian seal population died from a viral epidemic that killed over 20,000 individuals in weeks.

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