Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Carnivora
- Family
- Phocidae
- Genus
- Cystophora
Habitat
Hooded seals primarily inhabit the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, favoring areas with pack ice for breeding and resting. They are commonly found in regions like the Davis Strait, off Greenland, and the eastern coasts of Canada. These seals are highly migratory, following seasonal ice movements.
Diet
Hooded seals mainly eat fish such as capelin, Arctic cod, and redfish, along with squid and occasional crustaceans. They are deep divers, hunting at depths up to 1,000 meters, often at night or during migration. Feeding behavior involves solitary pursuits in open water.
Behavior
Hooded seals are mostly solitary except during breeding, when they gather on pack ice. They are excellent swimmers and divers, capable of staying submerged for up to 60 minutes and migrating long distances. Males display territorial behavior during mating by inflating their hood, while females are less aggressive. They are generally nocturnal feeders and rest on ice floes.
Conservation Status
The IUCN lists the hooded seal as Vulnerable due to population declines from climate change and historical hunting. Major threats include loss of sea ice habitat from global warming and incidental bycatch in fisheries.