Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Carnivora
- Family
- Phocidae
- Genus
- Histriophoca
Habitat
Ribbon seals primarily inhabit the pack ice of the Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, and adjacent North Pacific waters, preferring areas with seasonal ice for breeding and molting. They are pelagic hunters, spending much of their time in open ocean but hauling out on ice floes. Their range extends from Alaska to Russia, avoiding warmer southern waters.
Diet
Ribbon seals primarily eat fish such as Arctic cod and saffron cod, as well as squid and shrimp-like crustaceans. They are deep divers, often feeding at depths of 100-200 meters during nighttime hours when prey is more active. Their feeding behavior involves solitary hunting in open water.
Behavior
Ribbon seals are mostly solitary, coming together only for breeding on ice floes, and are generally active during the day but spend much time resting on ice. They exhibit territorial behavior around breeding sites, with males vocalizing to attract females. They are agile swimmers, capable of rapid dives to escape threats, and migrate seasonally with the ice pack.
Conservation Status
The IUCN classifies the ribbon seal as Least Concern, though populations may be declining due to climate change reducing sea ice habitats. Major threats include oil spills, pollution, and incidental bycatch in fisheries.