- The Ribbon Seal (Histriophoca fasciata), formerly classified under the genus Phoca, is a distinctive pinniped species inhabiting the North Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas. Adult males and females exhibit striking sexual dimorphism in both size and coloration.
- The most notable characteristic of adult males is their unique black and white banding pattern, which gives the species its common name. Their dark base coat is adorned with four well-defined white bands: one around the neck, one around each forelimb, and one around the lower back and rump. This dramatic contrasting pattern makes adult males among the most easily identifiable of all seal species. Females, while following a similar pattern, display less distinct bands that appear more brownish-gray against a lighter base coat.
- Ribbon seals are medium-sized pinnipeds, with adults reaching lengths of 1.5-1.75 meters (5-5.7 feet) and weights ranging from 70-100 kilograms (154-220 pounds). Males are typically larger than females. Pups are born with a thick, woolly white coat that they shed after about a month, revealing a darker juvenile pelage without the distinctive adult banding pattern.
- These seals are well-adapted to life in sub-arctic waters, with a thick blubber layer for insulation and strong flippers for swimming and diving. They can dive to depths of up to 200 meters and remain submerged for extended periods while foraging. Their diet primarily consists of pelagic fish, squid, and crustaceans.
- Ribbon seals are closely associated with sea ice during their breeding season, which occurs from late winter to early spring. They use ice floes as platforms for pupping, nursing, and molting. Unlike many other ice-breeding seals, ribbon seals tend to be solitary and do not form large breeding colonies. Females give birth to a single pup and nurse it for about four weeks before weaning.
- The species faces various conservation challenges, including climate change-induced sea ice reduction, commercial fishing interactions, and potential habitat disruption from increasing maritime activity in their range. While current population trends are not fully understood, they are believed to be stable, though vulnerable to environmental changes in their Arctic and sub-Arctic habitat.
