Bearded seal
The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) is a large true seal of the family Phocidae, native to Arctic and sub-Arctic waters of the Northern Hemisphere, where it is distinguished by prominent, bristly vibrissae that resemble a beard and give the species its common name.[1] As the largest seal in the Arctic, adults typically measure 2.1 to 2.7 meters in length and weigh 200 to 430 kilograms, with females generally larger than males.[1] These solitary animals prefer shallow coastal waters under 200 meters deep, closely tied to seasonal pack ice for hauling out, breeding, and molting, and they exhibit a circumpolar distribution generally south of 80° to 85° N latitude.[2] Bearded seals primarily forage on the seafloor for benthic invertebrates and fish, employing their sensitive whiskers to detect prey in low-visibility conditions.[3] During the spring breeding season from late March to mid-May, males produce characteristic underwater vocalizations—such as trills, moans, and sweeps—to attract females, often from isolated ice floes, with reproduction being promiscuous and lacking paternal care.[4][2] The species faces significant threats from climate-driven sea ice decline, which disrupts breeding and foraging habitats, leading to its recent reassessment as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List in 2025.[5] In the Pacific, the Beringia and Okhotsk distinct population segments are classified as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, reflecting concerns over population stability estimated in the hundreds of thousands globally.[6][7]Taxonomy and Phylogeny
Classification and Nomenclature
The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) is a species within the monotypic genus Erignathus, classified in the family Phocidae (true seals or earless seals), subfamily Phocinae (northern seals), order Carnivora, class Mammalia, phylum Chordata, and kingdom Animalia.[6][8][9] This placement reflects its phylogenetic position among caniform carnivorans adapted to marine environments, with molecular evidence supporting the division of Phocidae into Phocinae and the southern Monachinae subfamilies.[10] The species was first scientifically described by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777 under the basionym Phoca barbata, later reclassified into the genus Erignathus to distinguish its morphological traits from other phocids.[11] The genus name Erignathus derives from Greek roots "eri-" (an intensive prefix denoting "very" or "much") and "gnathos" (jaw), referencing the seal's prominent, robust jaw structure.[12] The specific epithet barbatus is Latin for "bearded," alluding to the dense, vibrissae-covered muzzle that resembles a beard and aids in benthic foraging.[6] These names emphasize observable anatomical features rather than behavioral or ecological traits, consistent with Linnaean conventions prioritizing morphology in pinniped taxonomy.[11]Subspecies
The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) is classified into two subspecies based on geographic isolation and minor morphological distinctions, though genetic differentiation between them is limited.[13][1] These are E. b. barbatus (Atlantic bearded seal) and E. b. nauticus (Pacific bearded seal), with the former inhabiting Arctic regions of the North Atlantic and the latter occurring in the North Pacific.[2][14] Subspecies designations persist despite overlapping traits, primarily due to allopatric distributions that limit gene flow, as evidenced by studies showing low but detectable divergence.[13]| Subspecies | Distribution | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E. b. barbatus | Laptev Sea, Barents Sea, North Atlantic Ocean including Hudson Bay | Larger-bodied on average; historically described by Erxleben in 1777. |
| E. b. nauticus | Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, Chukchi Sea, and adjacent Pacific Arctic waters | Subject to U.S. stock assessments; described by Pallas in 1811; faces threats from sea ice loss in Beringia.[15] |