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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Meerkat (S. suricatta)

Hyaenidae (Hyenas)

Crocuta

Spotted hyena
Spotted hyena (C. crocuta)

Hyaena

Brown hyena
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
Cheetah (A. jubatus)

Caracal

Caracal
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
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
Small-toothed palm civet (A. trivirgata)

Macrogalidia

Sulawesi palm civet
Sulawesi palm civet (M. musschenbroekii)

Paguma

Masked palm civet
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
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
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
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
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
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
Polar bear (U. maritimus) Asian black bear
Asian black bear (U. thibetanus)

Mephitidae

Conepatus (Hog-nosed skunks)

Molina's hog-nosed skunk
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
Striped skunk (M. mephitis)

Mydaus

Sunda stink badger
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
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
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
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
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
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
Black-backed jackal (C. mesomelas) Red wolf
Red wolf (C. rufus) Ethiopian wolf
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
African wild dog (L. pictus)

Nyctereutes

Raccoon
Raccoon dog (N. procyonoides)

Otocyon

Bat-eared fox
Bat-eared fox (O. megalotis)

Speothos

Bush dog
Bush dog (S. venaticus)

Urocyon

Gray fox
Gray fox (U. cinereoargenteus) Island fox
Island fox (U. littoralis)

Vulpes (Foxes)

Bengal fox
Bengal fox (V. bengalensis) Blanford's fox
Blanford's fox (V. cana) Cape fox
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
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
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
Eurasian otter (L. lutra) Hairy-nosed otter
Hairy-nosed otter (L. sumatrana)

Lutrogale

Smooth-coated otter
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
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
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
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: