The ringed seal (Pusa[1] hispida or
Phoca

Phoca hispida[1]), also known as
the jar seal and as netsik or nattiq by the Inuit, is an earless seal
(family: Phocidae) inhabiting the
Arctic

Arctic and sub-
Arctic

Arctic regions. The
ringed seal is a relatively small seal, rarely greater than 1.5 m in
length, with a distinctive patterning of dark spots surrounded by
light grey rings, hence its common name. It is the most abundant and
wide-ranging ice seal in the Northern Hemisphere: ranging throughout
the
Arctic

Arctic Ocean, into the
Bering Sea

Bering Sea and
Okhotsk Sea

Okhotsk Sea as far south as
the northern coast of
Japan

Japan in the Pacific, and throughout the North
Atlantic coasts of
Greenland

Greenland and
Scandinavia

Scandinavia as far south as
Newfoundland, and include two freshwater subspecies in northern
Europe. Ringed seals are one of the primary prey of polar bears and
killer whales, and have long been a component of the diet of
indigenous people of the Arctic.
Contents
1 Description
2 Taxonomy and phylogeny
3 Range and habitat
4 Life history
5 Diet
6 Predators
7 Human interactions
7.1 Conservation in the United States
8 Subspecies
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
Description[edit]
backflippers
The ringed seal is the smallest and most common seal in the Arctic,
with a small head, short cat-like snout, and a plump body. Its coat is
dark with silver rings on the back and sides with a silver belly, from
which this seal gets its vernacular name.[2] Depending on subspecies
and condition, adult size can range from 100 to 175 cm (39.5 to
69 in) and weigh from 32 to 140 kg (71 to 309 lb).[3]
The seal averages about 5 ft (1.5 m) long with a weight of
about 50–70 kg (110–150 lb).[4] This species is usually
considered the smallest species in the true seal family, although
several related species, especially the Baikal seal, may approach
similarly diminutive dimensions. Their small front flippers have claws
more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick that are used to maintain
breathing holes through 6.5 ft (2.0 m) thick ice.[4]
Taxonomy and phylogeny[edit]
The taxonomy of ringed seal has been much debated and revised in the
literature. Due to its wide range, as many as ten subspecies have been
described.[5] Currently, five distinct subspecies are recognized: P.
h. hispida in the
Arctic

Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea, P. h. ochotensis in the
Sea of Okhotsk, P. h. saimensis in
Lake Saimaa

Lake Saimaa in Finland, P. h.
ladogensis in nearby
Lake Ladoga

Lake Ladoga in
Russia

Russia and P.h. botnica in the
Gulf of Bothnia.[2] The ringed seal is most closely related to the
Caspian seal
_adult_with_young.jpg)
Caspian seal (P. caspica) and
Baikal seal

Baikal seal (P. sibirica), all of which
share similar small sizes, features of skull morphology and affinity
for ice.[2]
The closest phylogenetic relatives to the ringed seal are the grey
seal (Halichoerus grypus) and the species in the
Phoca

Phoca genus (harbor
seal and largha seal), to which the ringed seals were formerly
attributed.[6] Together with the remaining northern latitude ice seals
(ribbon seal, bearded seal, harp seal and hooded seal), these seals
constitute the subfamily Phocinae.[6]
Range and habitat[edit]
Ringed seals occur throughout the
Arctic

Arctic Ocean. They can be found in
the Baltic Sea, the
Bering Sea

Bering Sea and the Hudson Bay. They prefer to rest
on ice floe and will move farther north for denser ice. Two subspecies
can be found in freshwater.
Ringed seals have a circumpolar distribution from approximately 35°N
to the North Pole, occurring in all seas of the
Arctic

Arctic Ocean. In the
North Pacific, they are found in the southern
Bering Sea

Bering Sea and range as
far south as the seas of Okhotsk and Japan. Throughout their range,
ringed seals have an affinity for ice-covered waters and are well
adapted to occupying seasonal and permanent ice. They tend to prefer
large floes (i.e., > 48 m in diameter) and are often found in the
interior ice pack where the sea ice coverage is greater than 90%. They
remain in contact with ice most of the year and pup on the ice in late
winter-early spring.[7]
Distribution in Alaska: Ringed seals are found throughout the
Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering Seas, as far south as Bristol Bay in
years of extensive ice coverage. During late April through June,
ringed seals are distributed throughout their range from the southern
ice edge northward. Preliminary results from recent surveys conducted
in the Chukchi Sea in May–June 1999 and 2000 indicate that ringed
seal density is higher in nearshore fast and pack ice, and lower in
offshore pack ice. Results of surveys conducted by Frost and Lowry
(1999) indicate that, in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, the density of
ringed seals in May–June is higher to the east than to the west of
Flaxman Island. The overall winter distribution is probably similar,
and it is believed there is a net movement of seals northward with the
ice edge in late spring and summer. Thus, ringed seals occupying the
Bering and southern Chukchi seas in winter apparently are migratory,
but details of their movements are unknown.[7]
Ringed seals reside in arctic waters and are commonly associated with
ice floes and pack ice.[4] The ringed seal maintains a breathing hole
in the ice thus allowing it to use ice habitat that other seals
cannot.
Life history[edit]
Pup of ringed seal.
Females reach sexual maturity at 4 years while males do not reach
maturity until 7 years old.[4] During the spring breeding season,
females construct lairs within the thick ice and give birth in these
structures. Females give birth to a single pup on ice floes or
shorefast ice in March or April after a 9-month gestation period. Pups
are weaned after one month[4] and build up a thick layer of blubber.
Females usually begin mating in late April.[4] Males will roam the ice
for a mate. When found, the male and female may spend several days
together before mating. Then the male looks for another mate.
Ringed seals live about 25 to 30 years.[4] They are solitary animals
and when hauled out on ice separate themselves from each other by
hundreds of yards.[4]
Diet[edit]
Ringed seals eat a wide variety of small prey that consists of 72
species of fish and invertebrates. Feeding is usually a solitary
behavior and their prey of choice includes mysids, shrimp, arctic cod,
and herring. While feeding, ringed seals dive to depths of 35 to
150 ft (11 to 46 m).[4] In the summer ringed seals feed
along edge of the sea-ice for polar cod. In shallow water they feed on
smaller cod. Ringed seals may also eat herring, smelt, whitefish,
sculpin, perch, and crustaceans.
Predators[edit]
Ringed seal

Ringed seal are an important food item in particular for polar
bears.[8] During the pupping season,
Arctic

Arctic fox and glaucous gulls
take ringed seal pups born outside lairs while killer whales,
Greenland

Greenland sharks and occasionally Atlantic walruses prey upon them in
the water.[9]
Human interactions[edit]
Ringed seals have long been an important component of the diet of
Arctic

Arctic indigenous peoples throughout their range, and continue to be
harvested annually by many communities.[4]
Early Paleoeskimo sites in
Arctic

Arctic
Canada
.svg/250px-Flag_of_Canada_(Pantone).svg.png)
Canada revealed signs of harvested ringed seals dating from c.
4000–3500 BP, likely captured in frozen cracks and leads in the ice,
with a selection for juveniles and young adults.[10] However, in 2012
the Government of
Nunavut

Nunavut warned pregnant women to avoid eating the
liver due to elevated levels of mercury.[11]
Preparation of the ringed seal
skin of the ringed seal.
Bycatch

Bycatch in fishing gear, such as commercial trawls, is also another
threat to ringed seals.[4] Climate change is potentially the most
serious threat to ringed seal populations since much of their habitat
is dependent upon pack ice.[4] Birthing lairs are often destroyed
before the seal pup is able to forage on its own leading to poor body
condition.[citation needed]
Conservation in the United States[edit]
The estimated population size for the
Alaska

Alaska stock of ringed seals is
249,000 animals.[4] Currently, the population trend for this stock is
unknown.[4] Ringed seals are listed as a species of "least concern" by
the IUCN,[1] and are considered not “threatened” under the
Endangered Species Act.[7] Reliable estimates of the minimum
population, potential biological removal, and human-caused mortality
and serious injury are currently not available.[7] Because the
potential biological removal for ringed seals is unknown, the level of
annual U.S. commercial fishery-related mortality that can be
considered insignificant and approaching zero mortality and serious
injury rate is unknown.[7] No information is available on the status
of ringed seals.[7] Due to a very low level of interactions between
U.S. commercial fisheries and ringed seals, the
Alaska

Alaska stock of ringed
seals is not considered a strategic stock.[7]
On March 28, 2008, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service
initiated a status review[12] under the
Endangered Species Act
.svg/280px-Great_Seal_of_the_United_States_(obverse).svg.png)
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
to determine if listing this ice seal species under the ESA is
warranted.
Subspecies[edit]
The populations living in different areas have evolved to separate
subspecies, which are currently recognized as:[2]
Pusa

Pusa hispida hispida:
Arctic

Arctic coasts of Europe, Russia,
Canada
.svg/250px-Flag_of_Canada_(Pantone).svg.png)
Canada and
Alaska, including Novaya Zemlya, Spitsbergen,
Greenland

Greenland and Baffin
Island.
Pusa

Pusa hispida ochotensis: Kamchatka,
Okhotsk Sea

Okhotsk Sea and southward to
35°N, along the Japanese
Pacific

Pacific coast.
Pusa

Pusa hispida botnica (validity questionable[13]): The Baltic Sea,
especially in the
Bothnian Bay

Bothnian Bay where there is a large population, but
there are also endangered populations in the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf
of Riga and the Archipelago Sea.[14] P. h. botnica in general was
classified as a vulnerable species in 2013.[15]
Pusa

Pusa hispida ladogensis (Ladoga seal) Lake Ladoga
Pusa

Pusa hispida saimensis (
Saimaa

Saimaa ringed seal). Lives only in Lake Saimaa
in
Finland

Finland and is one of the most threatened seals in the world with
total population of around 300 individuals.
The three last subspecies are isolated from the others, like the
closely related
Baikal seal

Baikal seal and Caspian seal.
See also[edit]
Ringed seals and climate change
Saimaa

Saimaa ringed seal
Baikal seal
Caspian seal
References[edit]
This article incorporates public domain work of the United States
Government from references.[4][7]
^ a b c d Kovacs, K.; Lowry, L. & Härkönen, T. (2008). "Pusa
hispida".
IUCN Red List

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008.
International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 29 January
2009.
^ a b c d Miyazaki, Nobuyuki (2009). "Ringed, Caspian and Baikal
Seals". In Perrin, William F.; Wursig, Bernd; Thewissen, J. G. M.
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals (2nd ed.). 30 Corporate Drive,
Burlington Ma. 01803: Academic Press. pp. 1033–1036.
ISBN 978-0-12-373553-9.
^ [1] (2011).
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Office of Protected Resources - NOAA
Fisheries. "Ringed Seal (
Phoca

Phoca hispida)". accessed 11 March 2010.
^ Masao Amano; Azusa Hayano & Nobuyuki Miyazaki (2002).
"Geographic variation in the skull of the ringed seal
Pusa

Pusa hispida".
Journal of Mammalogy. 83 (2): 370–380.
doi:10.1644/1545-1542(2002)083<0370:GVITSO>2.0.CO;2.
^ a b Corey S. Davis; Isabelle Delisle; Ian Stirling; Donald B. Siniff
& Curtis Strobeck (2004). "A phylogeny of the extant Phocidae
inferred from complete mitochondrial DNA coding regions". Molecular
Phylogenetics and Evolution. 33 (2): 370–380.
doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.06.006. PMID 15336671.
^ a b c d e f g h Angliss R. P. & Outlaw R. B. (Revised 15 May
2006) "Ringed Seal (
Phoca

Phoca hispida):
Alaska

Alaska Stock". "
Alaska

Alaska Marine
Mammal

Mammal Stock Assessments".
NOAA

NOAA Technical Memorandum AFSC 168: 51-55.
^ C. Michael Hogan (2008) Polar Bear: Ursus maritimus,
globalTwitcher.com, ed. Nicklas Stromberg
^ Bjørn A. Krafft; Kit M. Kovacs; Anne Kirstine Frie; Tore Haug &
Christian Lydersen (2006). "Growth and population parameters of ringed
seals (
Pusa

Pusa hispida) from Svalbard, Norway, 2002–2004". ICES Journal
of Marine Science. 63 (6): 1136–1144.
doi:10.1016/j.icesjms.2006.04.001.
^ Murray, M. S. (2005). "Prehistoric Use of Ringed Seals: A
zooarchaeological Study from
Arctic

Arctic Canada". Environmental Archaeology
10 (1): 19-38
^ Study says ringed seal liver dangerous for pregnant women
^ (28 March 2008). "Proposed Rules".
Federal Register

Federal Register 73(61).
^ Berta, A. & Churchill, M. (2012). "
Pinniped

Pinniped Taxonomy: evidence
for species and subspecies".
Mammal

Mammal Review. 42 (3): 207–234.
doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2011.00193.x.
^ "Simulated Distributions of Baltic Sea-ice in Warming Climate and
Consequences for the Winter Habitat of the Baltic Ringed Seal". Allen
Press. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
^
HELCOM

HELCOM (2013). "
HELCOM

HELCOM Red List of
Baltic Sea

Baltic Sea species in danger of
becoming extinct" (PDF).
Baltic Sea

Baltic Sea Environmental Proceedings (140):
92.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Pusa

Pusa hispida.
Seal Conservation Society – Ringed Seal
SOS. Save our seals, thisisFINLAND
Inuit

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami page on the ringed seal
Pusa

Pusa hispida -
Animal

Animal Diversity Web
Smithsonian Institution - North American Mammals:
Pusa

Pusa hispida
Voices in the Sea - Sounds of the Ringed Seal
v
t
e
Extant
Carnivora

Carnivora species
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Eutheria
Superorder: Laurasiatheria
Suborder Feliformia
Nandiniidae
Nandinia
African palm civet

African palm civet (N. binotata)
Herpestidae
(Mongooses)
Atilax
Marsh mongoose
.jpg/440px-Marsh_mongoose_or_water_mongoose,_Atilax_paludinosus,_at_Rietvlei_Nature_Reserve,_Gauteng,_South_Africa_(22548192738).jpg)
Marsh mongoose (A. paludinosus)
Bdeogale
Bushy-tailed mongoose

Bushy-tailed mongoose (B. crassicauda)
Jackson's mongoose

Jackson's mongoose (B. jacksoni)
Black-footed mongoose

Black-footed mongoose (B. nigripes)
Crossarchus
Alexander's kusimanse

Alexander's kusimanse (C. alexandri)
Angolan kusimanse

Angolan kusimanse (C. ansorgei)
Common kusimanse

Common kusimanse (C. obscurus)
Flat-headed kusimanse

Flat-headed kusimanse (C. platycephalus)
Cynictis
Yellow mongoose
.jpg/440px-Cynictis_penicillata_(Etosha,_2011).jpg)
Yellow mongoose (C. penicillata)
Dologale
Pousargues's mongoose

Pousargues's mongoose (D. dybowskii)
Galerella
Angolan slender mongoose

Angolan slender mongoose (G. flavescens)
Black mongoose

Black mongoose (G. nigrata)
Somalian slender mongoose

Somalian slender mongoose (G. ochracea)
Cape gray mongoose

Cape gray mongoose (G. pulverulenta)
Slender mongoose

Slender mongoose (G. sanguinea)
Helogale
Ethiopian dwarf mongoose

Ethiopian dwarf mongoose (H. hirtula)
Common dwarf mongoose
_(6002158282).jpg/480px-Dwarf_Mongoose_(Helogale_parvula)_(6002158282).jpg)
Common dwarf mongoose (H. parvula)
Herpestes
Short-tailed mongoose

Short-tailed mongoose (H. brachyurus)
Indian gray mongoose

Indian gray mongoose (H. edwardsii)
Indian brown mongoose

Indian brown mongoose (H. fuscus)
Egyptian mongoose

Egyptian mongoose (H. ichneumon)
Small Asian mongoose

Small Asian mongoose (H. javanicus)
Long-nosed mongoose

Long-nosed mongoose (H. naso)
Collared mongoose

Collared mongoose (H. semitorquatus)
Ruddy mongoose

Ruddy mongoose (H. smithii)
Crab-eating mongoose

Crab-eating mongoose (H. urva)
Stripe-necked mongoose

Stripe-necked mongoose (H. vitticollis)
Ichneumia
White-tailed mongoose
.JPG/440px-White-tailed_mongoose_(Ichneumia_albicauda).JPG)
White-tailed mongoose (I. albicauda)
Liberiictus
Liberian mongoose

Liberian mongoose (L. kuhni)
Mungos
Gambian mongoose

Gambian mongoose (M. gambianus)
Banded mongoose

Banded mongoose (M. mungo)
Paracynictis
Selous' mongoose

Selous' mongoose (P. selousi)
Rhynchogale
Meller's mongoose

Meller's mongoose (R. melleri)
Suricata
Meerkat
_Tswalu.jpg/500px-Meerkat_(Suricata_suricatta)_Tswalu.jpg)
Meerkat (S. suricatta)
Hyaenidae
(Hyenas)
Crocuta
Spotted hyena
.jpg/440px-Crocuta_crocuta_Ngorongoro_Crater_(2015).jpg)
Spotted hyena (C. crocuta)
Hyaena
Brown hyena
_(6472926331).jpg/440px-Brown_Hyena_(Parahyaena_brunnea)_(6472926331).jpg)
Brown hyena (H. brunnea)
Striped hyena

Striped hyena (H. hyaena)
Proteles
Aardwolf

Aardwolf (P. cristatus)
Felidae
Large family listed below
Viverridae
Large family listed below
Eupleridae
Small family listed below
Family Felidae
Felinae
Acinonyx
Cheetah
_(8292038736).jpg/440px-Female_Cheetah_(Acynonyx_jubatus)_(8292038736).jpg)
Cheetah (A. jubatus)
Caracal
Caracal
,_Paris,_décembre_2013.jpg/440px-Caracl_(01),_Paris,_décembre_2013.jpg)
Caracal (C. caracal)
African golden cat

African golden cat (C. aurata)
Catopuma
Bay cat

Bay cat (C. badia)
Asian golden cat

Asian golden cat (C. temminckii)
Felis
European wildcat

European wildcat (F. silvestris)
African wildcat

African wildcat (F. lybica)
Jungle cat

Jungle cat (F. chaus)
Black-footed cat

Black-footed cat (F. nigripes)
Sand cat

Sand cat (F. margarita)
Chinese mountain cat
_in_XiNing_Wild_Zoo.jpg/440px-Chinese_Mountain_Cat_(Felis_Bieti)_in_XiNing_Wild_Zoo.jpg)
Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti)
Domestic cat (F. catus)
Leopardus
Ocelot

Ocelot (L. pardalis)
Margay

Margay (L. wiedii)
Pampas cat

Pampas cat (L. colocola)
Geoffroy's cat

Geoffroy's cat (L. geoffroyi)
Kodkod

Kodkod (L. guigna)
Andean mountain cat

Andean mountain cat (L. jacobita)
Oncilla

Oncilla (L. tigrinus)
Southern tigrina

Southern tigrina (L. guttulus)
Leptailurus
Serval

Serval (L. serval)
Lynx
Canadian lynx (L. canadensis)
Eurasian lynx

Eurasian lynx (L. lynx)
Iberian lynx

Iberian lynx (L. pardinus)
Bobcat

Bobcat (L. rufus)
Otocolobus
Pallas's cat

Pallas's cat (O. manul)
Pardofelis
Marbled cat

Marbled cat (P. marmorata)
Prionailurus
Fishing cat

Fishing cat (P. viverrinus)
Leopard cat

Leopard cat (P. bengalensis)
Sundaland leopard cat (P. javanensis)
Flat-headed cat

Flat-headed cat (P. planiceps)
Rusty-spotted cat

Rusty-spotted cat (P. rubiginosus)
Puma
Cougar

Cougar (P. concolor)
Herpailurus
Jaguarundi

Jaguarundi (H. yagouaroundi)
Pantherinae
Panthera
Lion

Lion (P. leo)
Jaguar

Jaguar (P. onca)
Leopard

Leopard (P. pardus)
Tiger

Tiger (P. tigris)
Snow leopard

Snow leopard (P. uncia)
Neofelis
Clouded leopard

Clouded leopard (N. nebulosa)
Sunda clouded leopard

Sunda clouded leopard (N. diardi)
Family
Viverridae

Viverridae (includes Civets)
Paradoxurinae
Arctictis
Binturong

Binturong (A. binturong)
Arctogalidia
Small-toothed palm civet
_(8076736823)_(cut).jpg/440px-Small-toothed_Palm_Civet_(Arctogalidia_trivirgata_stigmatica)_(8076736823)_(cut).jpg)
Small-toothed palm civet (A. trivirgata)
Macrogalidia
Sulawesi palm civet

Sulawesi palm civet (M. musschenbroekii)
Paguma
Masked palm civet
.jpg/440px-Palm_civet_on_tree_(detail).jpg)
Masked palm civet (P. larvata)
Paradoxurus
Golden wet-zone palm civet (P. aureus)
Asian palm civet

Asian palm civet (P. hermaphroditus)
Jerdon's palm civet (P. jerdoni)
Golden palm civet

Golden palm civet (P. zeylonensis)
Hemigalinae
Chrotogale
Owston's palm civet

Owston's palm civet (C. owstoni)
Cynogale
Otter civet

Otter civet (C. bennettii)
Diplogale
Hose's palm civet

Hose's palm civet (D. hosei)
Hemigalus
Banded palm civet

Banded palm civet (H. derbyanus)
Prionodontinae
(Asiatic linsangs)
Prionodon
Banded linsang

Banded linsang (P. linsang)
Spotted linsang

Spotted linsang (P. pardicolor)
Viverrinae
Civettictis
African civet

African civet (C. civetta)
Genetta
(Genets)
Abyssinian genet
_Genetta_abyssinica.png/440px-Neue_Wirbelthiere_zu_der_Fauna_von_Abyssinien_gehörig_(1835)_Genetta_abyssinica.png)
Abyssinian genet (G. abyssinica)
Angolan genet

Angolan genet (G. angolensis)
Bourlon's genet

Bourlon's genet (G. bourloni)
Crested servaline genet

Crested servaline genet (G. cristata)
Common genet
.JPG/440px-Genetta_genetta_felina_(Wroclaw_zoo).JPG)
Common genet (G. genetta)
Johnston's genet

Johnston's genet (G. johnstoni)
Rusty-spotted genet

Rusty-spotted genet (G. maculata)
Pardine genet

Pardine genet (G. pardina)
Aquatic genet

Aquatic genet (G. piscivora)
King genet

King genet (G. poensis)
Servaline genet

Servaline genet (G. servalina)
Haussa genet

Haussa genet (G. thierryi)
Cape genet
_(17356502041)_(crop).jpg/440px-Large-spotted_Genet_(Genetta_tigrina)_(17356502041)_(crop).jpg)
Cape genet (G. tigrina)
Giant forest genet

Giant forest genet (G. victoriae)
Poiana
African linsang

African linsang (P. richardsonii)
Leighton's linsang

Leighton's linsang (P. leightoni)
Viverra
Malabar large-spotted civet
_DSCN2359_(cut).jpg/440px-Malabar_large-spotted_civet_(Viverra_civettina)_DSCN2359_(cut).jpg)
Malabar large-spotted civet (V. civettina)
Large-spotted civet

Large-spotted civet (V. megaspila)
Malayan civet

Malayan civet (V. tangalunga)
Large Indian civet

Large Indian civet (V. zibetha)
Viverricula
Small Indian civet

Small Indian civet (V. indica)
Family Eupleridae
Euplerinae
Cryptoprocta
Fossa (C. ferox)
Eupleres
Eastern falanouc

Eastern falanouc (E. goudotii)
Western falanouc (E. major)
Fossa
Malagasy civet
.jpg/440px-Fossa_fossana_(JoRoRe_2004-08-17_18h08m10s).jpg)
Malagasy civet (F. fossana)
Galidiinae
Galidia
Ring-tailed mongoose

Ring-tailed mongoose (G. elegans)
Galidictis
Broad-striped Malagasy mongoose

Broad-striped Malagasy mongoose (G. fasciata)
Grandidier's mongoose

Grandidier's mongoose (G. grandidieri)
Mungotictis
Narrow-striped mongoose

Narrow-striped mongoose (M. decemlineata)
Salanoia
Brown-tailed mongoose

Brown-tailed mongoose (S. concolor)
Durrell's vontsira (S. durrelli)
Suborder
Caniformia

Caniformia (cont. below)
Ursidae
(Bears)
Ailuropoda
Giant panda

Giant panda (A. melanoleuca)
Helarctos
Sun bear

Sun bear (H. malayanus)
Melursus
Sloth bear

Sloth bear (M. ursinus)
Tremarctos
Spectacled bear

Spectacled bear (T. ornatus)
Ursus
American black bear

American black bear (U. americanus)
Brown bear

Brown bear (U. arctos)
Polar bear
.jpg/440px-Polar_Bear_-_Alaska_(cropped).jpg)
Polar bear (U. maritimus)
Asian black bear
.JPG/440px-Ursus_thibetanus_3_(Wroclaw_zoo).JPG)
Asian black bear (U. thibetanus)
Mephitidae
Conepatus
(Hog-nosed
skunks)
Molina's hog-nosed skunk
_Inao_Vásquez_001.jpg/440px-Chingue_(Conepatus_chinga)_Inao_Vásquez_001.jpg)
Molina's hog-nosed skunk (C. chinga)
Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk

Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk (C. humboldtii)
American hog-nosed skunk

American hog-nosed skunk (C. leuconotus)
Striped hog-nosed skunk

Striped hog-nosed skunk (C. semistriatus)
Mephitis
Hooded skunk

Hooded skunk (M. macroura)
Striped skunk
_DSC_0030.jpg/440px-Striped_Skunk_(Mephitis_mephitis)_DSC_0030.jpg)
Striped skunk (M. mephitis)
Mydaus
Sunda stink badger
.jpg/440px-Brehms_Het_Leven_der_Dieren_Zoogdieren_Orde_4_Stinkdas_(Mydaus_meliceps).jpg)
Sunda stink badger (M. javanensis)
Palawan stink badger

Palawan stink badger (M. marchei)
Spilogale
(Spotted skunks)
Southern spotted skunk

Southern spotted skunk (S. angustifrons)
Western spotted skunk

Western spotted skunk (S. gracilis)
Eastern spotted skunk
.jpg)
Eastern spotted skunk (S. putorius)
Pygmy spotted skunk

Pygmy spotted skunk (S. pygmaea)
Procyonidae
Bassaricyon
(Olingos)
Eastern lowland olingo

Eastern lowland olingo (B. alleni)
Northern olingo

Northern olingo (B. gabbii)
Western lowland olingo

Western lowland olingo (B. medius)
Olinguito

Olinguito (B. neblina)
Bassariscus
Ring-tailed cat

Ring-tailed cat (B. astutus)
Cacomistle

Cacomistle (B. sumichrasti)
Nasua
(Coatis inclusive)
White-nosed coati

White-nosed coati (N. narica)
South American coati

South American coati (N. nasua)
Nasuella
(Coatis inclusive)
Western mountain coati (N. olivacea)
Eastern mountain coati (N. meridensis)
Potos
Kinkajou

Kinkajou (P. flavus)
Procyon
Crab-eating raccoon
.JPG/440px-Mano_pelada_(Procyon_cancrivorus_nigripes).JPG)
Crab-eating raccoon (P. cancrivorus)
Raccoon

Raccoon (P. lotor)
Cozumel raccoon

Cozumel raccoon (P. pygmaeus)
Ailuridae
Ailurus
Red panda

Red panda (A. fulgens)
Suborder
Caniformia

Caniformia (cont. above)
Otariidae
(Eared seals)
(includes fur seals
and sea lions)
(
Pinniped

Pinniped inclusive)
Arctocephalus
South American fur seal

South American fur seal (A. australis)
Australasian fur seal (A. forsteri)
Galápagos fur seal

Galápagos fur seal (A. galapagoensis)
Antarctic fur seal

Antarctic fur seal (A. gazella)
Juan Fernández fur seal

Juan Fernández fur seal (A. philippii)
Brown fur seal

Brown fur seal (A. pusillus)
Guadalupe fur seal

Guadalupe fur seal (A. townsendi)
Subantarctic fur seal

Subantarctic fur seal (A. tropicalis)
Callorhinus
Northern fur seal

Northern fur seal (C. ursinus)
Eumetopias
Steller sea lion

Steller sea lion (E. jubatus)
Neophoca
Australian sea lion

Australian sea lion (N. cinerea)
Otaria
South American sea lion

South American sea lion (O. flavescens)
Phocarctos
New Zealand sea lion

New Zealand sea lion (P. hookeri)
Zalophus
California sea lion

California sea lion (Z. californianus)
Galápagos sea lion

Galápagos sea lion (Z. wollebaeki)
Odobenidae
(
Pinniped

Pinniped inclusive)
Odobenus
Walrus

Walrus (O. rosmarus)
Phocidae
(Earless seals)
(
Pinniped

Pinniped inclusive)
Cystophora
Hooded seal

Hooded seal (C. cristata)
Erignathus
Bearded seal

Bearded seal (E. barbatus)
Halichoerus
Gray seal (H. grypus)
Histriophoca
Ribbon seal

Ribbon seal (H. fasciata)
Hydrurga
Leopard

Leopard seal (H. leptonyx)
Leptonychotes
Weddell seal

Weddell seal (L. weddellii)
Lobodon
Crabeater seal
.jpg/440px-Crabeater_Seal_in_Pléneau_Bay,_Antarctica_(6059168728).jpg)
Crabeater seal (L. carcinophagus)
Mirounga
(Elephant seals)
Northern elephant seal

Northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris)
Southern elephant seal

Southern elephant seal (M. leonina)
Monachus
Mediterranean monk seal

Mediterranean monk seal (M. monachus)
Hawaiian monk seal

Hawaiian monk seal (M. schauinslandi)
Ommatophoca
Ross seal

Ross seal (O. rossi)
Pagophilus
Harp seal

Harp seal (P. groenlandicus)
Phoca
Spotted seal

Spotted seal (P. largha)
Harbor seal

Harbor seal (P. vitulina)
Pusa
Caspian seal
_adult_with_young.jpg)
Caspian seal (P. caspica)
Ringed seal

Ringed seal (P. hispida)
Baikal seal

Baikal seal (P. sibirica)
Canidae
Large family listed below
Mustelidae
Large family listed below
Family
Canidae

Canidae (includes dogs)
Atelocynus
Short-eared dog

Short-eared dog (A. microtis)
Canis
Side-striped jackal
-_rare_sighting_of_this_nocturnal_animal_..._(13799300905).jpg/440px-Side-striped_Jackal_(Canis_adustus)-_rare_sighting_of_this_nocturnal_animal_..._(13799300905).jpg)
Side-striped jackal (C. adustus)
African golden wolf

African golden wolf (C. anthus)
Golden jackal

Golden jackal (C. aureus)
Coyote

Coyote (C. latrans)
Gray wolf

Gray wolf (C. lupus)
Black-backed jackal
.jpg/520px-Black-backed_jackal,_Canis_mesomelas,_at_Pilanesberg_National_Park,_South_Afric_(17126221388).jpg)
Black-backed jackal (C. mesomelas)
Red wolf
.jpg/440px-Red_wolf_(4531335218).jpg)
Red wolf (C. rufus)
Ethiopian wolf
.jpg/440px-Ethiopian_wolf_(Canis_simensis_citernii).jpg)
Ethiopian wolf (C. simensis)
Cerdocyon
Crab-eating fox

Crab-eating fox (C. thous)
Chrysocyon
Maned wolf

Maned wolf (C. brachyurus)
Cuon
Dhole

Dhole (C. alpinus)
Lycalopex
Culpeo

Culpeo (L. culpaeus)
Darwin's fox

Darwin's fox (L. fulvipes)
South American gray fox

South American gray fox (L. griseus)
Pampas fox

Pampas fox (L. gymnocercus)
Sechuran fox

Sechuran fox (L. sechurae)
Hoary fox

Hoary fox (L. vetulus)
Lycaon
African wild dog
.jpg/440px-African_wild_dog_(Lycaon_pictus_pictus).jpg)
African wild dog (L. pictus)
Nyctereutes
Raccoon

Raccoon dog (N. procyonoides)
Otocyon
Bat-eared fox

Bat-eared fox (O. megalotis)
Speothos
Bush dog
.jpg/440px-Speothos_venaticus_Zoo_Praha_2011-5_(cropped).jpg)
Bush dog (S. venaticus)
Urocyon
Gray fox
.jpg/440px-Grey_Fox_(Urocyon_cinereoargenteus).jpg)
Gray fox (U. cinereoargenteus)
Island fox
_FWS_001.jpg/440px-Urocyon_littoralis_(Island_fox)_FWS_001.jpg)
Island fox (U. littoralis)
Vulpes
(Foxes)
Bengal fox
_at_Desert_NP_(cropped).jpg/440px-Black_tailed_fox_(Bengal_Fox)_at_Desert_NP_(cropped).jpg)
Bengal fox (V. bengalensis)
Blanford's fox

Blanford's fox (V. cana)
Cape fox
.jpg/440px-Vulpes_chama_(Etosha).jpg)
Cape fox (V. chama)
Corsac fox

Corsac fox (V. corsac)
Tibetan sand fox

Tibetan sand fox (V. ferrilata)
Arctic

Arctic fox (V. lagopus)
Kit fox

Kit fox (V. macrotis)
Pale fox

Pale fox (V. pallida)
Rüppell's fox

Rüppell's fox (V. rueppelli)
Swift fox

Swift fox (V. velox)
Red fox
.jpg/440px-Fox_-_British_Wildlife_Centre_(17429406401).jpg)
Red fox (V. vulpes)
Fennec fox

Fennec fox (V. zerda)
Family Mustelidae
Lutrinae
(Otters)
Aonyx
African clawless otter

African clawless otter (A. capensis)
Oriental small-clawed otter

Oriental small-clawed otter (A. cinerea)
Enhydra
Sea otter
_(25169790524)_crop.jpg/440px-Sea_Otter_(Enhydra_lutris)_(25169790524)_crop.jpg)
Sea otter (E. lutris)
Hydrictis
Spotted-necked otter

Spotted-necked otter (H. maculicollis)
Lontra
North American river otter

North American river otter (L. canadensis)
Marine otter

Marine otter (L. felina)
Neotropical otter

Neotropical otter (L. longicaudis)
Southern river otter

Southern river otter (L. provocax)
Lutra
Eurasian otter
_(5584351087).jpg/440px-European_Otter_(Lutra_lutra)_(5584351087).jpg)
Eurasian otter (L. lutra)
Hairy-nosed otter

Hairy-nosed otter (L. sumatrana)
Lutrogale
Smooth-coated otter
.jpg/440px-Smooth-coated_Otter_(14157590954).jpg)
Smooth-coated otter (L. perspicillata)
Pteronura
Giant otter

Giant otter (P. brasiliensis)
Mustelinae
(including badgers)
Arctonyx
Hog badger

Hog badger (A. collaris)
Eira
Tayra

Tayra (E. barbara)
Galictis
Lesser grison

Lesser grison (G. cuja)
Greater grison

Greater grison (G. vittata)
Gulo
Wolverine

Wolverine (G. gulo)
Ictonyx
Saharan striped polecat

Saharan striped polecat (I. libyca)
Striped polecat

Striped polecat (I. striatus)
Lyncodon
Patagonian weasel

Patagonian weasel (L. patagonicus)
Martes
(Martens)
American marten

American marten (M. americana)
Yellow-throated marten

Yellow-throated marten (M. flavigula)
Beech marten
.jpg/440px-Steinmarder_(cropped).jpg)
Beech marten (M. foina)
Nilgiri marten

Nilgiri marten (M. gwatkinsii)
European pine marten

European pine marten (M. martes)
Japanese marten

Japanese marten (M. melampus)
Sable

Sable (M. zibellina)
Pekania
Fisher (P. pennanti)
Meles
Japanese badger

Japanese badger (M. anakuma)
Asian badger

Asian badger (M. leucurus)
European badger

European badger (M. meles)
Mellivora
Honey badger

Honey badger (M. capensis)
Melogale
(Ferret-badgers)
Bornean ferret-badger

Bornean ferret-badger (M. everetti)
Chinese ferret-badger

Chinese ferret-badger (M. moschata)
Javan ferret-badger

Javan ferret-badger (M. orientalis)
Burmese ferret-badger

Burmese ferret-badger (M. personata)
Mustela
(Weasels and Ferrets)
Amazon weasel

Amazon weasel (M. africana)
Mountain weasel
.jpg/440px-Mountain_Weasel_(Mustela_altaica).jpg)
Mountain weasel (M. altaica)
Stoat

Stoat (M. erminea)
Steppe polecat

Steppe polecat (M. eversmannii)
Colombian weasel

Colombian weasel (M. felipei)
Long-tailed weasel

Long-tailed weasel (M. frenata)
Japanese weasel

Japanese weasel (M. itatsi)
Yellow-bellied weasel

Yellow-bellied weasel (M. kathiah)
European mink

European mink (M. lutreola)
Indonesian mountain weasel

Indonesian mountain weasel (M. lutreolina)
Black-footed ferret

Black-footed ferret (M. nigripes)
Least weasel

Least weasel (M. nivalis)
Malayan weasel

Malayan weasel (M. nudipes)
European polecat

European polecat (M. putorius)
Siberian weasel

Siberian weasel (M. sibirica)
Back-striped weasel

Back-striped weasel (M. strigidorsa)
Egyptian weasel

Egyptian weasel (M. subpalmata)
Neovison
(Minks)
American mink

American mink (N. vison)
Poecilogale
African striped weasel

African striped weasel (P. albinucha)
Taxidea
American badger
.jpg/440px-Taxidea_taxus_(Point_Reyes,_2007).jpg)
American badger (T. taxus)
Vormela
Marbled polecat

Marbled polecat (V. peregusna)
Taxon identifiers
Wd: Q203208
ADW: Pusa_hispida
ARKive: pusa-hispida
EoL: 1052724
Fossilworks: 80722
GBIF: 5219369
ITIS: 622018
IUCN: 41672
MSW: 14001068
NCBI: