Baikal red seal. Why does the seal not breathe underwater and why does it need a sanatorium?
Family Pinnipeds
Seals are a family of mammals belonging to the order Pinnipedia (Pinnipedia). Representatives of the families Steller sea lions, or eared seals (Otariidae) and seals, or true seals (Phocidae), are called seals. The family of eared seals is represented by two species - fur seals and sea lions.
Depending on the breed and habitat, the family real seals are divided into many genera, species and subspecies. Let's look at several genera and species of real seals living in the CIS:
Genus Common seals (Phoca)
Common or spotted seal or common seal (Phoca vitulina)
Larga or spotted seal (Phoca larga)
Ringed seal, or ringed seal, or akiba (Phoca hispida)
Baikal seal(Phoca sibirica; syn. Pusa sibirica)
Caspian seal, or Caspian seal (Phoca caspica; synonym: Pusa caspica)
Striped seal, or lionfish (Phoca fasciata; syn. Histriophoca fasciata)
Harp seal, or coot (Phoca groenlandica; synonym Pagophilus groenlandicus)
Genus Long-faced or gray seals (Halichoerus)
Long-muzzled or gray seal or tavyak (Halichoerus grypus)
Genus Crest seals (Cystophora)
Crest seal or white-bellied seal (Cystophora cristata)
Genus Monk Seals (Monachus)
Monk seal (Monachus monachus)
Genus Sea Hares (Erignathus)
Sea hare or bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus)
In both groups, both pairs of limbs are transformed into flippers, limbs with membranes between the fingers, armed with claws. The rear flippers are directed backwards and are used for swimming. U eared seals For movement in water, the forelimbs are used, and the hind limbs in the water serve as rudders, and on land they bend forward and support the massive body.
Seals are well adapted to the aquatic lifestyle and carry low temperatures, due to living in harsh arctic conditions. They spend their entire lives surrounded by ice and snow in cold arctic waters. A thick layer of subcutaneous fat takes on the main thermoregulatory function, which reduces the specific weight of the body and makes swimming easier.
harbor seal
harbor seal(lat. Phoca vitulina Linnaeus) is a representative of the family of true seals. Two subspecies are in the Red Book - the European subspecies and the Steineger seal or island seal. Some subspecies are endangered, the subspecies Phoca vitulina vitulina is protected under the Wadden Sea Agreement.
There are five subspecies of the harbor seal:
The Western Atlantic seal, Phoca vitulina concolor, is found in eastern North America;
Ungava seal, Phoca vitulina mellonae - found in fresh waters of eastern Canada. Some researchers include it in the subspecies P. v. concolor;
Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi. Found in western North America;
Island seal, Phoca vitulina stejnegeri. Found in East Asia;
East Atlantic seal, Phoca vitulina vitulina. The most common of all subspecies of the common seal. Found in Europe and Western Asia.
Seals are common in the seas adjacent to the Arctic Ocean, the Barents, Japan, Okhotsk, Bering and Chukchi seas, as well as in inland waters - in lakes Baikal, Ladoga, and Caspian. They inhabit the coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Baltic and North Seas. Harbor seals usually inhabit rocky areas where predators cannot reach them.
Usually the main background of the head, sides and flippers is yellowish-ochre-olive, on the back beautiful pattern of olive-black-brown spots with the outlines of oblong strokes. Harbor seals come in brown, rufous or gray, and have characteristic V-shaped nostrils. Seals in western waters have two types of coloration: dark and light. In seals (larga) of eastern waters, the main tone is lighter and brighter, the spots are rarer and smaller, dark individuals are very rare. Adults reach 1.85 m in length and 132 kg in weight. Females live up to 30-35 years, and males up to 20-25 years. The global population of seals ranges from 400 thousand to 500 thousand individuals.
Larga, or motley seal
Larga, or motley seal (lat. Phoca largha) is a species of seal that is closely related to the common seal and has a similar appearance. The Tungus used the word “larga” to call seals. It lives in the northern Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Japan and the far eastern coast of Russia. The larga seal lives in the Sea of Japan all year round. Largs prefer shallow bays, small islands and small groups of rocks near the coast.
The color of the fur is light, variegated, whitish or light silver below, darker above, dark gray. Along the back, on the sides and belly there are brown-brown-black spots of irregular shape. Adult sealed seals weigh from 81 to 109 kg and reach a length of 1.7 m for males and 1.6 m for females. The animal's flippers help it move not only in water, but also on the surface.
The fur of a newborn seal is white, the subcutaneous layer of fat immediately after birth is small, but over the course of 3 weeks, while the baby is drinking full-fat mother’s milk, the amount of fat increases, and the baby rapidly gains weight. Already by 4 weeks, the baby’s body fully adapts to the world around it. He becomes ready for active swimming and learning to forage on his own. But even if they cannot immediately learn to catch their own food, the reserve of fat accumulated during breastfeeding is enough for 10-12 weeks of life.
The population of spotted seals is estimated at 230 thousand individuals. Larga is a fairly numerous species in the Far Eastern seas, so hunting for them is allowed. In addition, a certain number of animals are also hunted for industrial purposes, producing leather, fur, lard and meat. Despite its population, the spotted seal is a little-studied animal. You can see these animals from afar and can only guess what the seals are doing.
Ringed seal
Ringed seal, or ringed seal(lat. Phoca hispida) is a species of true seal, most often found in the Arctic. In addition to the Arctic Ocean, this close relative The common seal lives in the Baltic Sea, as well as in lakes Ladoga and Saimaa.
There are 4 subspecies of ringed seals that live in different living spaces, but all of them are located in polar or subpolar regions:
The White Sea subspecies (P. h. hispida) is the most common seal in the Arctic Ocean and lives on ice floes.
The Baltic subspecies (P. h. botnica) lives in the cold regions of the Baltic Sea, particularly off the coasts of Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Russia, occasionally reaching Germany.
Ladoga (P. h. ladogensis) is a freshwater species that lives in Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia, this subspecies is included in the Red Books of Russia and Karelia.
Saimaa (P. h. saimensis) is a freshwater species that lives in Lake Saimaa. The Saimaa seal is in immediate danger of extinction; this subspecies is the only mammal endemic to Finland. According to estimates in 2012, there were about 310 representatives of this subspecies.
The ringed seal is named after the light rings with a dark frame that make up the pattern of its fur. The ringed seal is the smallest species of seal found in the Arctic, length - up to 1.5 m, weight - 40-80 kg. Baltic specimens are slightly larger - 140 cm and 100 kg. Males are larger than females. Ringed seals have good eyesight, as well as excellent hearing and smell. The fur of the seal is thicker and longer than that of other seals. On a gray background there are spots bordered by light rings. The fishery produces seal oil, up to 20 kg per individual, and the skins are used to make leather and fur products.
Baikal seal
Baikal seal, or Baikal seal(lat. pusa sibirica) - one of three freshwater species seal in the world, endemic to Lake Baikal, relict of the tertiary fauna. It is found only in Lake Baikal, from which it enters rivers such as the Angara and Selenga. The main habitat in Baikal is the pelagic zone. Sometimes found in litters and bays of the lake.
The body length of adult seals is from 110 to 150 cm, weight is from 60 to 130 kg. The Baikal seal has a spindle-shaped body, the neck is not demarcated from the body. There are membranes between the fingers. The front flippers are armed with powerful claws, of which the front one is the most powerful. Thin, rather long claws of the hind flippers weaker than claws front
The skin of the seal is covered with rather dense short, up to 2 cm, fur. The edges of the ear canal, the narrow ring around the eyes and the nostrils remain bare. The muzzle of males is almost naked, the flippers are covered with hair. The color of the upper body of the Baikal seal is brownish-gray with a silvery tint; the bottom is somewhat lighter.
On the upper lips of seals there are usually eight translucent vibrissae arranged in regular rows. Males have shorter oral vibrissae than females. There are supraorbital vibrissae. Such “eyebrows” consist of seven vibrissae, six of which are located in a regular circle, and the seventh is located in the center. The seal's nostrils have two vertical slits; their outer edges form leathery folds - valves. In water, the nostrils and ear openings remain tightly closed. The nostrils open under the pressure of air released from the lungs.
Fishing has been prohibited since 1980. The Baikal seal is included in the IUCN Red List 2008 as a species close to extinction.
The Baikal seal is mentioned in the reports of the first explorers who came to Lake Baikal in the first half of the 17th century. A scientific description was first made during the work of the 2nd Kamchatka, or Great Northern Expedition, led by V. Bering. As part of this expedition, a detachment worked on Baikal under the leadership of I. G. Gmelin, who comprehensively studied the nature of the lake and its surroundings and described the seal.
According to legend local residents, the seal one or two centuries ago was found in the Bauntovsky lakes. It is believed that the seal got there along Lena and Vitim. Some naturalists believe that the seal came to the Bauntov lakes from Baikal and that these lakes were supposedly connected with it. However, reliable data confirming one version or another has not yet been received.
Caspian seal
Caspian seal, or Caspian seal(lat. Phoca caspica) is a species of true seals, order of pinnipeds. The smallest seal in the world, endemic to the Caspian Sea. It is found in the entire sea - from the coastal regions of the Northern Caspian Sea to the shores of Iran.
Body length 1.2-1.4 m, weight up to 90 kg. The color of the back of adult seals is olive-grayish, the lower part of the body, sides, front of the head, cheeks and throat are of a dirty straw-whitish tone. Top part body is covered with spots.
This unique species is endangered: its population has declined by 90% over the past 100 years. If at the beginning of the 20th century the number of Caspian seals reached 1 million individuals, then, according to aerial photographs, the number of animals in 1989 was about 400 thousand individuals, in 2005 - 111 thousand individuals, and in 2008 no more than 100 thousand individuals. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed Caspian seals as a “vulnerable” species back in the last century. Currently, these animals are classified as endangered species. One of the main negative factors leading to the decline of the species is sea pollution and whitefish fishing.
Striped seal
Striped seal, or lionfish (Histriophoca fasciata) is a species of the family of true seals. It got its name due to its peculiar coloring. Adult males have a very contrasting color - an overall dark, almost black background with white stripes encircling the body in several places. Females have a less contrasting color, their overall background is lighter, and the stripes sometimes merge and are often almost indistinguishable. The body length of an adult animal is 150-190 cm, weight 70-90 kg.
The lionfish is widespread in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean - in the Chukchi, Bering, Okhotsk Seas and the Tatar Strait. Mainly prefers the open sea, but in case of ice drift it may end up close to the coast.
harp seal
harp seal, or coot (lat. Pagophilus groenlandicus) is a common species of marine mammal in the Arctic of the family of true seals (Phocidae) from the order Pinnipeds (Pinnipedia).
Harp seals are found in the arctic waters of the Arctic Ocean. There are three populations of harp seals, which almost never overlap. The first population is distributed in the Barents, White and Kara seas. The second population lives off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The third population has chosen places north of Jan Mayen.
The body length of adult males is 1.7-2 m, females 1.5-1.8 m, weight 150-160 kg. The coloration of the adult male (fruit bat) and female (utelgi) differs sharply. The adult male is white with a straw-yellow tint, the muzzle is black, and there is a wide black stripe on the back on each side. An adult female with a light muzzle, a smoky-gray okoaska, a light belly, dark brown or black spots of irregular shape on the back and sides.
With age, the color of the coot's fur changes. Newborn white seals are white seals. After the first molt, the long white fur becomes short and gray. During the molting period, when young seals are white and gray in color, they are called Khokhlush, and after molting - serk. At the age of two years, the fur color is ash-gray with dark spots. In the third year of life, it becomes dull and the dark spots fade. Seals aged two and three years are called conjuys. Only four-year-old seals acquire the characteristic plumage of adult animals.
The fur of the harp seal consists of short, hard and sparse hair, has no undercoat and does not protect the body from cooling. Looks shiny, smooth, thick, durable. It is very warm and dense, protects even from the coldest, most piercing wind, and it is not at all afraid of water. Its delicate velvety and lightness make fur an excellent material for making casual clothing and evening wear. Discreet and aristocratic fur looks great on men and women, emphasizing the expressiveness and willfulness of the owner.
sea hare
Sea hare, or bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) is a pinniped of the seal family (Phocidae). The only species of the genus Erignathus. The name "sea hare" was given to this seal by Russian hunters because of its timid habits. Or, according to another version, for the similarity of the “jumps” that he makes when moving on land and ice.
The sea hare is the largest among northern seals, over 2 m long and weighing up to 300 kg. The color of the fur is a uniform brown-gray color, darker on the back than on the belly, and sometimes faintly expressed small spots are found on it. The hair is relatively sparse and coarse. The vibrissae are long, thick and smooth.
The sea hare is common in the marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean and the northern parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In the Atlantic southward it is found up to and including Hudson Bay and the coastal waters of Labrador. In the Pacific Ocean south to the northern part of the Tartary Strait. Occasionally occurs in the central parts of the Arctic Ocean. Avoids the open sea, prefers shallow coastal areas.
The commercial importance of the sea hare is significant. It is mined by the local population and special hunting vessels. When fishing, they use subcutaneous fat (40-100 kg per animal) and skin as raw hides. In some places, meat is also used, mainly for feeding fur-bearing animals.
The Greatness of the Monk Seal
Monk seal, or white bellied seal(lat. Monachus monachus) is a representative of the monk seal genus (Monachus), of the true seal family (Phocidae). Endangered.
Another thing has long been respected by fishermen in Algeria, Turkey, and Libya. sea animal- monk seal. If you offend him, they said, you will have no luck in the fishing business. On west coast In Africa, it was believed that the monk seal monitors the fisherman’s respect for his prey: you should not swear while fishing. Among the ancient Greeks, the monk seal was under the protection of two influential gods - Apollo and Poseidon. Many cities in Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia had the local name for monk seal in their names. This same animal was Marcel's first totem. The image of a monk seal is often found on ancient Greek coins. In Spain, in Port Avila, a monument to this marine mammal still stands to this day. And according to biblical legends, the Egyptian pharaoh and his army turned into seals when they rushed to catch up with Moses and the Jews leaving Egypt.
Fur seal
Northern fur seal, or sea cat, or eared seal (lat. Callorhinus ursinus) is a pinniped mammal belonging to the family of eared seals. There are 7-9 types fur seals, which are divided into two genera - 1 species - northern fur seals, and the remaining species - southern fur seals.
The range of various species covers the entire Pacific basin from Alaska and Kamchatka in the north to Australia and the subantarctic islands in the south. In addition, the Cape fur seal lives on the coast of the Namib Desert in South Africa. This is the only thing marine mammal, about which we can say that it lives in the desert.
Fur seals live on the coasts of seas and oceans, occupying flat and steep rocky shores. Seals have a pronounced gregarious nature; their rookeries number several thousand animals, often living in crowded conditions. Usually animals rest on the shore and go to the sea to feed. However, each such hunt can last up to 2-3 days, so the seals can sleep in the water.
Fur seals feed mainly on fish, but less often they can eat cephalopods. In water they are agile and fast predators, and also quite voracious. By autumn, fur seals accumulate a thick layer of subcutaneous fat.
Seals have an elongated body, a relatively short neck, a small head with barely noticeable ears, and their limbs are flattened into flippers. Fur seals move on land using all four limbs. The tail is short, almost invisible. Fur seals have wet, large and dark eyes. They are quite shortsighted, although this is compensated by well-developed hearing and smell, and are also capable of echolocation.
Fur seals are covered with quite peculiar fur. The fur of fur seals has a low, very thick and soft underfur, and a rough and hard spine. There are about 300 thousand hairs on the skin. The awn-down ratio is 1:30.
Fur seals' fur color changes with age. The color of the animals is often brown, sometimes from silver-gray to black-brown. Newborn seals are a shiny pure black; after molting, their fur turns gray. As a cat ages, its fur turns brown. The older the animal, the more dark tones there are in the color.
Males and females of fur seals differ greatly in size: males look more massive due to their thick necks and are 4-5 times larger than females. The weight of male large northern fur seals can reach 100-250 kg, while females weigh only 25-40 kg.
In addition to natural enemies, hunting brings considerable damage to populations. To this day, fur seals are hunted on an industrial scale. Only the cubs are killed (their fur best quality), in addition to skins, the meat and fat of these animals are also used. However, the main production goes specifically to the fashion industry. Some subspecies of fur seals are on the verge of extinction.
This species was described by Carl Linnaeus based on detailed information provided by Georg Steller, who first encountered the species on Bering Island in 1742.
Northern fur seal rookeries were first described in 1741 on the Commander Islands by the expedition of Vitus Bering. Naturalist Georg Steller wrote in his diaries about “countless herds of cats,” whose numbers were enormous at that time (Golder, 1925). Since then, hunters for “fur gold” have flocked there, as well as to other islands of the northern Pacific, and the rookeries have repeatedly fallen into disrepair as a result of uncontrolled fishing and have been rebuilt. In 1957, a convention was adopted for the conservation of North Pacific fur seals. In recent decades, seal fishing has greatly decreased, and on some islands, including in 1995 on Medny Island, it was completely stopped due to economic unprofitability (Stus, 2004). On Tyuleniy Island, fur seal fishing has been discontinued for 5 years. But every year teams of trappers arrive here to catch animals on orders from Russian dolphinariums and oceanariums - usually from 20 to 40 individuals. Until now, fishing in Russia is carried out on a small scale on Bering Island.
Fur seal fur for connoisseurs of beauty
The fur of fur seals is highly valued because of its extraordinary thickness, tenderness and silkiness. It is very warm and wearable, waterproof and extremely durable, wearability is 95%. Service life is about 12-14 years.
Seal fur is of high quality and is in great demand in the foreign and domestic markets. The best quality is considered to be skins aged 2-4 years, length from 50 to 150 cm; skins older than 4 years are of little use for making fur products, as they have sparse fluff and thick, heavy leather fabric. Natural shades of seal fur range from dark gray to almost black. During the dressing process, the spine is sometimes plucked out, and the down is painted: the top is black or dark brown, the bottom is cherry or golden. In a one-piece product made of seal fur, it may seem too heavy, so it creates dense folds on the fold. Looks great in combination with other fur or as a trim. Fur is used to make collars and men's hats, while lighter ones are used for women's coats.
Designer modern coat made of fur seals - their straight silhouette demonstrates the natural beauty of the animal and emphasizes the super-stylishness and originality of the owner, providing her with comfort in any bad weather. Fur coats allow women to look mysterious and seductive, and men - courageous and powerful.
Seal fishery
Seals are game animals. The Arctic Ocean is characterized by three species: the harp seal, the bearded seal and the ringed seal. The common seal is found within Russia outside the polar Arctic. In Russia, the first place in production is occupied by the harp seal, the length of an adult animal is over 1.5 m, weight - up to 160 kg. Fishing for other seals is difficult due to the fact that they do not form mass aggregations.
The fishery uses the lard and skin of adult animals, and the skin of the whites is used for processing into fur. Belkov fishing is a type of fur trade, the object of which is Belek. Belek is a newborn baby of a harp or Caspian seal, covered with snow-white fur. Over the past years, this fishery has attracted the attention of various environmental organizations and has been subjected to severe criticism from them, despite the fact that indigenous peoples have always restrained the number of white whales and this has maintained a balance in nature because a large number of whitefish eat all the fish, which can threaten an environmental disaster.
Depending on the breed and habitat of the seal, the fur differs in pile length, color and texture:
Belek - skins have the greatest density and quality of fur. They have primary, shiny, soft, tightly-fitting hair. The color is white or cream, as well as with a grayish even or spotted tint on the spinal part of the skin.
Crested Crested - the skins have a primary, dense, soft, tightly fitting hair coat that is light to dark gray on the ridge and silver-gray on the belly.
Serka - faded, sparse, coarse, shiny, short hair. The color is gray or silver-gray with dark spots.
Sivar (Caspian) - the skins of a moulted seal up to a year old, with shiny, low, soft hair of a variegated gray color.
Akiba - skins of gray-green color with a yellowish tint, with a pattern of large ring-shaped spots, dark in the middle, surrounded by a light border.
Larga - the color of the skin is light yellow or cream with a pattern of solid dark spots.
Nerpa - skins have a shiny, thick, low, even, long pile. The fur consists of a rough, almost downless spine, tightly adjacent to the skin tissue, dark brownish in color, with ring-shaped spots. Leather tissue is thick and heavy.
Durable seal fur for demanding customers
Seal fur is one of the most popular, beautiful and durable materials. The seal's fur is thicker, smoother and longer, silky to the touch, gray in color with ring-shaped spots. Beautiful silver seal fur with a wonderful natural pattern has excellent qualities and has unique water-repellent properties. Ring seal fur is extremely practical - it is very durable, does not fray, does not tangle, and does not wear out for a long time. They are used in their natural form, and also dyed brown, black, white, using tone and top dyeing. Seal fur can be plucked or unplucked. It has high wear resistance - 95%, up to 20 seasons and water-repellent properties.
Seal fur is quite expensive due to the rarity of this animal. Requires very high-quality dressing, due to the thick bottom layer of the skin. The fur of the seal is very hard and a little heavy, so short products are often sewn from the seal. After several years of wear, the fur becomes softer and the seal fur product looks even more attractive than new. They produce leather and fur products: women's coats, men's jackets, jackets, hats, men's collars and women's bags. 
Seal fur is universal, suitable for classic and sports items, perfectly combined with leather and suede, with shiny fittings, and is as comfortable as possible in an urban environment.
Seal fur looks great on men and women, and many fashion houses include it in their winter and autumn collections. Products made from seal fur fit perfectly and are ideal for people leading an active lifestyle, mainly men. Seal fur drapes beautifully and is suitable for sewing outerwear, skirts, jackets, and hats. If a new seal product may seem stiff to you, then after two to three weeks of wear, like a leather product, it acquires its natural flexibility.
The rigidity of the skin increases the durability of this fur, so the owner of a seal coat or jacket can be sure that it will serve him long and reliably. Clothes made from seal fur, when worn daily, not very carefully, can last for more than a decade. In bad weather, seal fur retains its appearance and thermal insulation properties. 
It is moisture resistant and is not afraid of heavy rain and the reagents that utility workers sprinkle on roads. Seal fur requires minimal care: you can remove dirt by simply wiping the fur with a damp sponge; it will sparkle with a beautiful silver-bluish glow. When you return home, you just need to shake off your fur coat or jacket. Products made from seal fur are beautiful and practical for city dwellers.
Products made from seals are suitable for active, energetic people who do not like clothing to restrict movement. For those who want to look good, but don't like to spend too much time caring for their clothes. For those who choose fur for daily wear, and not to impress friends. For those who strive to combine comfort and an elegant look in clothing. 
With the development of the fur industry, some species of marine animals, which are valuable raw materials for the fur industry, are on the verge of extinction. Every year, the snow-white landscape of Canada's east coast is covered in bloody footprints. Hunters brutally kill thousands of innocent seal cubs, who die in terrible agony, and their skins are used to make luxury goods. Therefore, think about whether the life of a little squirrel is worth yours. fur product? You can learn more about ways to protect marine animals on the website:
Lake Baikal is famous all over the world not only as the deepest and most uniquely beautiful lake. Unique animals live on Baikal, which are not found anywhere else - Baikal seals, endemics, relicts of the tertiary fauna.
APPEARANCE, PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS, FEATURES
The seal is almost as tall as a person - 165 cm, and its weight is also similar - from 50 to 130 kg. The average life expectancy is 55 years. The animal's body contains a large amount of subcutaneous fat, thanks to which it retains heat in cold water. The fat reserve helps the seal survive periods of food shortage and lie on the surface of the water while sleeping. And these animals sleep surprisingly soundly. There are stories of how scuba divers turned over sleeping seals, but they did not even wake up.
The animal's skin has dense, short and hard hair, membranes between the toes, and the front flippers have powerful claws. A seal can stay underwater for up to 40 minutes, thanks to the huge volume of its lungs and oxygen dissolved in the blood; it swims very quickly, using its hind flippers, but on the surface it becomes completely clumsy.
LIFESTYLE OF THE BAIKAL SEAL
HABITAT
In June, a large number of these animals can be observed on the shores of the Ushkany Islands - the islands are their natural rookery. At sunset, seals begin to move en masse towards the islands.
During severe Siberian frosts, the lake freezes. Before the onset of cold weather, seals use their sharp claws and even teeth to dig out breathing holes. Pregnant female seals tend to spend time on the surface of a frozen lake in winter.
SOCIALITY, HABITS, OTHER FEATURES OF LIFE
After the ice disappears, seals stick to the coastal zone, sometimes forming small rookeries on spits or rocks.
According to observations, the seal sleeps in water, as it is in an immobilized state for quite a long time, probably as long as there is enough oxygen in the blood. While the seal was sleeping, scuba divers swam close to it, touched it and even turned it over, but the animal continued to sleep.
NUTRITION, WAYS OF OBTAINING FOOD
Favorite food is golomyanka fish and Baikal goby. Over the course of a year, this animal can consume more than a ton of such food. Sometimes omul accidentally ends up in the food of the Baikal seal, which ultimately makes up up to 2-3 percent of its daily diet.
REPRODUCTION, GROWTH, LIFESPAN
At the end of the winter period, this rare animal crawls onto the ice to give birth to babies. It is during this period of time that the seal faces danger from hunters and poachers.
The cubs appear in mid-March, and female seals build special snow dens for them. Most often, one baby is born, very rarely there may be two or even more. Newborn babies weigh 4 kg, snow-white coats provide them with reliable camouflage in the snow, later the cubs molt and become silver.
The seal grows for many years, both in length and in body weight. Growth continues for so long (up to 20 years!) that many animals die “undergrown” - after all average age seals in the population are only 8-9 years old. In fact, seals can live for a very long time - up to 40-60 years. There are very few “seal” long-livers - literally a few. But about half of all seals are young individuals under the age of 5 years. Among adult animals, most seals are 6-16 years old. By the way, scientists determine the age of a seal by its claws or fangs. They remain on both tree rings, reminiscent of rings on a cut of wood. After some procedures, the number of rings is counted and the number of years the seal has lived is determined.
INTERESTING FACTS!
DID YOU KNOW THAT:
Common seals, long-snouted seals, elephant seals- all these animals share one habitat - the ocean. As you can see, seals do not live in fresh water, but Russia's Lake Baikal is home to many members of this family, a population of which is nicknamed Baikal seals.
The appearance of seals in Lake Baikal remains a mystery.
How they got into the lake is still an inexplicable mystery. Scientists have not been able to answer this question. According to legend, there is an underground canal that connects Baikal to the ocean. But no evidence has been found that it really exists.
It is most likely that the seals’ route to Baikal ran through the Yenisei and Angara rivers. The omul also got into the lake the same way.
The seal is an amazing diver and can dive to depths of up to 400 meters. Also, the Baikal seal can stay under water for quite a long time (about 40 minutes).
BAIKAL SEAL AND MAN
It should be borne in mind that the seal in the past was a revered animal among peoples engaged in sea hunting. Even now, some Orochi, having caught a seal, put a little wild garlic and tobacco in its mouth. This is seen as a sacrifice to the temu - the masters sea elements, to which the seal is most directly related.
The Baikal seal fishery previously had a fairly significant economic importance in the life of the local population. The production of animals was strictly limited. The skins of Baikal seals (even adults) are the best fur raw material compared to the skins of other types of seals, as a result of which they are more highly valued.
Currently, commercial hunting for the Baikal seal is prohibited.
Where did the seal come from on Lake Baikal?
It is believed that it penetrated from the Arctic Ocean along the Yenisei and Angara to glacial period, when the rivers were dammed by ice advancing from the north. The possibility of its penetration along the Lena, which is believed to have flowed from Lake Baikal, cannot be ruled out.
Who was the first to describe the seal (nerpa) of Baikal?
It is mentioned in the reports of the first explorers who came here in the first half of the 17th century. A scientific description was first made during the work of the 2nd Kamchatka, or Great Northern, expedition led by V. Bering. As part of this expedition, a detachment worked on Baikal under the leadership of I. G. Gmelin, who comprehensively studied the nature of the lake and its surroundings and described the seal.
How is the number of seals determined?
According to the Limnological Institute of the SB RAS, there are about 70 thousand seals in Baikal. Counting is done in different ways. The fastest, but less reliable, is visually from an airplane that flies along a certain route network. The census takers look out the window and mark each lair they see, or they take aerial photographs of the routes and use them to count the lairs. And then they are recalculated from a unit area to the entire water area of the lake.
The second method is to lay out about 100 survey sites across Lake Baikal, each 1.5x1.5 km long. They go around them on a motorcycle or walk around them on the ice and count all the lairs that are found on the sites. Then a recalculation is also carried out for the entire water area of the lake.
And finally, the route method. On two or three motorcycles, a group of surveyors travels across Lake Baikal at a certain distance from each other, sufficient to see from the motorcycle all the lairs they encounter.
IN last years The most accurate (maximum statistical error +10%) areal census of seals is used.
What is the age limit for seals in Baikal?
The greatest age of the seal, defined by employee Limnological Institute V.D. Pastukhov, -56 years for females and 52 years for males.
At what age does a seal become sexually mature?
At the age of 3-6 years it is capable of mating, producing offspring at the age of 4-7 years. Males reach sexual maturity a year or two later. Pregnancy in seals lasts 11 months. It begins with embryonic diapause - a delay in the development of the embryo in the female womb for 3-3.5 months. During her life, a female can probably bring up to two or more dozen cubs, given that she is capable of bearing offspring until the age of 40. Females usually give birth annually. However, up to 10-20% of females remain barren for various reasons.
When does a seal give birth to its young?
The puppies' period lasts for more than a month - from the end of February to the beginning of April. Most seals appear in mid-March. They are born on ice, in a snowy lair. During the first period, while they are feeding on their mother’s milk, they do not dive into the water, but prefer to lie down in the den. Usually the seal gives birth to one, rarely two, cubs. The weight of a newborn is up to 4 kg. Cubs have fur white- this is their protective coloring. It allows them to remain almost invisible in the snow in the first weeks of life, while they feed on their mother’s milk. With the transition to independent feeding on fish, seals molt: the fur gradually changes color to silver-gray in two to three-month-olds, and then brownish-brown in older individuals.
How big does the Baikal seal reach?
The average weight of seals in Baikal is about 50 kg, the maximum weight of males is up to 130 kg, length - 1.7-1.8 m. Females are smaller in size - 1.3-1.6 m and weighing up to 60-70 kg Linear growth ends in seals by the age of 17-19 years, and weight loss continues for a number of years and is possible until the end of life.
How fast does the seal swim?
Maximum speed is 20-15 km/h. But she swims at such speed when she moves away from danger. In calm conditions it swims much slower - probably 10-15 km/h.
To what depths can the seal dive?
According to fishermen, seals have been caught in nets at depths of up to 200 m, but, as a rule, they dive to much shallower depths. Since the seal catches food in a well-lit area (25-30 m), it apparently does not need to dive deep.
What pressure can a seal withstand when diving to depth?
If a seal is capable of diving up to 200 m, then, therefore, it can withstand a pressure of 21 atm.
Why does the seal not suffer from decompression sickness?
Probably the main reason is that seals do not breathe under water, so the saturation of tissues, including blood, with gases remains the same as atmospheric pressure. There is no excess saturation with nitrogen, although a seal can undergo a pressure change from 1 to 10-15 atmospheres or more in half an hour.
Divers who spend a short time under water also do not experience decompression sickness, although there are known cases of record diving without equipment to a depth of 100 m or more. Probably for the same reason, whales (sperm whales), which are capable of diving to depths of up to 1200 m and withstanding a pressure of 121 atm, do not suffer from decompression sickness.
Do seals sleep in water?
According to observations, the seal sleeps in water, as it is in an immobilized state for quite a long time, probably as long as there is enough oxygen in the blood. While the seal was sleeping, scuba divers swam close to it, touched it and even turned it over, but the animal continued to sleep.
How long can a seal stay underwater?
In experimental conditions (in a large aquarium), when it was held under water, the seal remained there for up to 68 minutes (a record duration). In nature, it stays under water for up to 20-25 minutes - this is enough for it to get food or escape from danger.
Where does the seal winter?
Seals are constantly under the ice in warm water, and they breathe through holes made during the freeze-up. Young animals often use collective diving. Adult males overwinter alone, preferring smooth (not hummocky) ice.
Seals begin to crawl onto the surface of the ice only in the spring, when the sun begins to get hot, but at night they return to the water.
Females spend the winter on the ice in lairs under the snow, often in hummocky areas of Lake Baikal, and will become mothers in the spring. When a seal descends under the ice to hunt, it can only breathe through vents - spare holes in the ice. The seal takes a breather by raking the ice from below with the claws of its forelimbs. Around her lair there are up to a dozen or more auxiliary vents, which can be tens or even hundreds of meters away from the main one.
How much food does a seal need per day?
Under experimental conditions (in an aquarium), the seal's daily diet ranged from 3 to 5 kg of fish. An adult seal eats up to 1 ton of fish per year. The main food of the seal is golomyanka-goby fish. Omul enters the seal's food accidentally and in very small quantities, no more than 1-2% of the daily diet. Omul, just like grayling and whitefish, is a very energetic and fast fish, and the seal simply cannot catch up with it. And those individuals that do come across are probably weakened, and their selection only improves the population, maintaining its healthy “athletic” shape.
How and when do they hunt seals?
Usually in the spring, when the snow begins to melt from the surface and the main vents are exposed, near which the seal warms itself or rests with its newborn offspring. The hunt begins in April and continues during the spring ice drift, when you can sail on ships or boats among the ice floes on which beds are arranged. In addition to shooting, Lately Net fishing is increasingly being used. Special nets are installed under the ice near the main vents, and when the seal returns “home” it ends up in them. Catching with nets is more rational, since there are almost no losses, which occur during shooting, when wounded animals go under the ice and die there.
Is the seal edible?
Local residents of the shores of Lake Baikal consider seal meat and especially seal fat to be healing. Nerpa hunters - seal hunters - and Buryats consider fresh, still warm seal liver a delicacy. The meat of young seals - khubunks - is especially tender. If the meat of adult seals, even after heat treatment, retains the smell of fish, then in khubunks it is almost devoid of any foreign odors. Seal meat and fat are used in the treatment of pulmonary diseases (tuberculosis), peptic ulcers internal organs, first of all, the stomach, etc. The liver of the seal contains many vitamins.
How is seal skin used?
The skin of adult seals is used to line hunting skis with the wool facing out, to make clothing, mittens, shoes (high boots), etc.
The most beautiful, durable and expensive fur is that of three- to four-month-old seals. The color of this fur is silver-gray.
The seal is an amazing animal that lives in extreme conditions. In addition, the seal helped the peoples of northern Russia to survive in difficult conditions. This statement is indisputable, since only hunting for seals and various types of pinnipeds allowed them to survive in the most difficult conditions.
What kind of mammal is this that saved the Yakuts, Buryats and several other small nations living in the northern regions from extinction? Russian Federation?
Nerpa - description of the beast, photos and videos
This most amazing mammal has a spindle-shaped body that smoothly passes into the head. The limbs of the seal are flippers, with the front flippers equipped with powerful claws and impressive muscles. It is the forelimbs that help her make a hole in the ice in order to breathe air or rest on the ice or stones after hunting or escaping from a predator.
In addition, this mammal has a significant layer of subcutaneous fat, the thickness of which can vary from 2 to 14 cm.
Scientists distinguish three types of this type of seal: Baikal, Caspian and ringed seals. It was the fat, skin and meat of these animals that allowed several small nationalities of our Motherland to survive.
Using animal fat and meat for food, heating and lighting their homes, and skins to make clothing, boats and the homes themselves, thousands, and possibly millions of people, were able to withstand the harshest living conditions.
The habitat of this unique mammal is quite extensive and affects both the regions of the far north of the Russian Federation and in lakes northern regions our Motherland. In addition, these animals are also found in the Caspian Sea. This type of seal, living in Lake Baikal and the Caspian Sea, is considered the most interesting for scientific study, since many scientists consider them to be witnesses of the initial spread of seals across the lakes after the end of the Ice Age.
Because the this type Since the seal family, like its closest relatives, is a predator, the basis of the animal’s diet is fish. In addition, in the event of an unsuccessful hunt, these mammals will not refuse various types of crustaceans and zooplankton.
At the same time, the seal does not give preference to any particular type of fish, but hunts any fish that is common in its habitat. However, besides humans, they also have natural enemies, which significantly affect the seal population. TO natural enemies include: sea lions, killer whales, walruses, arctic foxes and other sea and land animals.
Despite the colonization of the regions of the far north of Russia and the disruption of the way of life that has occurred, the commercial harvest of seals pursues almost the same goals as several hundred years ago. Fat, which has some medical properties, is used for various diseases associated with hypothermia of the body (frostbite), and meat - with a lack of vitamin C (scurvy).
However, the main reasons for industrial extraction remain animal skins. Due to the presence of dense thick fur and the high strength of the skin itself, clothing and hats made from the skin of this animal are highly popular not only among residents of the far north, but also among residents of more southern regions.
Considering the above, we can confidently say that if the seal, as a species, had died in the process of evolution, it would have become much poorer.
Let's watch the video - a seal communicates with a girl:
SEALS SEALS
(Pusa), genus of seals. Sometimes included in the genus of harbor seals (Phoca). Dl. up to 1.5 m, weight up to 100 kg. 3 types. Ringed N. (P. hispida) is common in temperate and cold waters of the Atlantic. and Pacific Oceans and circumpolar in the North. Ledovitom approx.; in the USSR in all northern regions. seas, as well as in the Bering and Okhotsk seas (called Akiba). It feeds on fish and crustaceans from the top layers of water. Breeds on ice. Sometimes it forms large clusters. Number OK. 5 million individuals (70s of the 20th century). An important object of limited fishing. Ladoga (P. h. ladogensis) and Baltic (P. h. botnica) subspecies - in the Red Book of the USSR; 1 subspecies in the IUCN Red List. Caspian N., or Caspian seal (P. caspica), lives in the Caspian Cape. Chisl. 400-450 thousand (80s of the 20th century). The fishery is limited (approx. 40-45 thousand white whales per year). The Baikal N., or Baikal seal (P. sibirica), lives in Lake Baikal. Number 60-70 thousand individuals (80s of the 20th century). Fishing is limited (approx. 6 thousand per year). (see 40_TABLE_40) fig. 12.
.(Source: Biological encyclopedic Dictionary." Ch. ed. M. S. Gilyarov; Editorial team: A. A. Babaev, G. G. Vinberg, G. A. Zavarzin and others - 2nd ed., corrected. - M.: Sov. Encyclopedia, 1986.)
sealsGenus aquatic mammals family seals Includes 3 types. Dl. body up to 1.5 m, weight up to 100 kg. The ringed seal lives in temperate and cold waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and circumpolarly in the Arctic Ocean. Limited fishery object. Listed in the IUCN Red List. Baltic subspecies in the Red Books of the IUCN and Russia. The Caspian seal lives in the Caspian Sea. Fishing is strictly limited. The Baikal seal lives in Lake Baikal. Fishing has been prohibited since 1980. It is listed in the IUCN Red List as a species close to extinction.
.(Source: “Biology. Modern illustrated encyclopedia.” Chief editor A. P. Gorkin; M.: Rosman, 2006.)
See what "SELS" are in other dictionaries:
Baikal seal ... Wikipedia
SEALS, a genus of aquatic mammals (family of true seals). Body length up to 150 cm, weight up to 90-100 kg. 3 species, in the northern subpolar latitudes The world ocean, in the Caspian and Baltic seas, in lakes Baikal, Saimaa and Ladoga. Back color... ... Modern encyclopedia
seals Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas
the seals themselves- žieduotieji ruoniai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas gentis apibrėžtis Gentyje 3 rūšys. Paplitimo arealas – Š. pusrutulio užšalančios jūros. atitikmenys: lot. Pusa English Baikal and Caspian seals; ringed vok. Kleinrobben eng... ... Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas
Rod Nerpa- 4.3.1. Genus Nerpa Phoca The smallest of the true seals (length 1-2 m). The muzzle is wide and short. They move on short front flippers, the longest toes of which are the 1st and 2nd. They breed most often on ice. There are no harems. Newborns... ... Animals of Russia. Directory
Baikal seal Scientific classification Kingdom: Animals Type: Chordata ... Wikipedia
This term has other meanings, see Nerpa. Baikal seal ... Wikipedia
The species belonging to this family have very diverse body sizes: from 1.2 to 6.0 m. Unlike the species of the two previous families, the hind flippers of true seals do not bend at the heel joint and cannot serve... ... Biological encyclopedia
- (Phocidae)* * Seals are a family of aquatic predators, apparently related to mustelids, primarily otters. Characteristic signs the absence of an external ear and the hind limbs pointing backward, not bending at the heel joint and not ... ... Animal life
Books
- Unexplored Baikal, Valery Maleev. About the book You will find stunning photographs taken on the protected shores of the deepest lake on the planet: majestic mountains, summer flowering meadows, winter ice caves, sunrises and sunsets, and...
