The National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) conducts research on marine mammals important to the mission of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with particular attention to issues related to marine mammals off the coasts of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California killer whale) ADAPTATIONS – Harp and ribbon seal patterns develop with age and vary by gender (most extreme in males) • Many color patters help seals blend in Cetacean coloration • Three types – Uniform (e.g. Togiak Refuge is home to five species from this group; the harbor seal and spotted seal are seen fairly frequently, while the ringed seal (Pusa hispida), ribbon seal (Histriophoca fasciata) and bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) are less common. The seals are typically silver-grey or white in Color, with black spots that vary in size covering most of the body. However, some studies of their respiratory physiology and blood parameters suggest adaptations for a pelagic existence and deep diving ( Burns, 1981 ). Ribbon Seal. Southern Elephant Seal.
x. Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining. Some species, such as ribbon seals, ringed seals and leopard seals, have patterns of contrasting light and dark coloration. Extinct in the Wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range. RIBBON SEAL Habitat: Arctic Size: 1.6-1.9m long; 70-80kg Adaptation: spends most time on floating on pack ice (i.e., frozen sea walter) & in open seas, away from land Diet: shrimps, crabs, squid & fish Predator(s): polar bear, orca, eagle & man Feeding and prey Diet varies by area and age of the seal. All Conservation Status. Ringed Seal.
Males and females are difficult to distinguish, though in the spring the … Ribbon seals in the Okhotsk and Bering seas are known to take 35 different species of fish and invertebrates.
Seals have a layer of subcutaneous fat known … Weddel Seal. Students will further investigate animal adaptations by creating an ocean creature in their journal and sharing it with the class. Predators include polar bear, walrus, killer whale, and Greenland shark. beluga) – Spotted or striped with sharp colored areas on head side, belly, flukes (e.g. Ribbon seals are rarely encountered because of the remote and inhospitable nature of their polar habitat. Ribbon seals have not been the subject of detailed physiological studies, and little is known about their diving capacities.
These seals can grow to about 2.1 m to 2.7 m in length and weigh between 200-430 kg (DFO 2016). Ribbon seals, Histriophoca fasciata (Zimmermann, 1783), aka Phoca fasciata, are an elusive seal species for researchers because of their remote habitat.These seals measure an average of 1.6 m (maximum 1.9 m) in length, and weigh an average 70-80 kg (maximum 148 kg), both males and females. All fully furred species molt; phocids molt once a year, while otariids gradually molt all year. Lesson 2: Adaptations (Size Lab and Creatures of the Deep) - Student will study marine mammal adapatations through a lab based on thermoregulation and energy conservation.