The icy waters of the Arctic are home to a remarkable variety of seal species, each uniquely adapted to survive in this extreme environment. On an Aurora Expeditions voyage, you may spot these agile marine mammals resting on ice floes, diving through frigid waters, or raising their pups in the safety of snow dens. Discover the fascinating world of Arctic seals and the vital role they play in this fragile polar ecosystem.
The ringed seal is a small, earless Arctic seal, easily recognised by its dark spots encircled with lighter rings. Found across the icy waters of the Arctic and sub-Arctic, ringed seals are agile hunters, feeding on Arctic cod and planktonic crustaceans.
This seal is also knows as the 'Common Seal' and is the most widely distributed pinniped found along temperate to Arctic coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. Although generally shy and solitary in the water, harbour seals are often seen hauled out on beaches or rocks.
This large Arctic seal is named for its long, sensitive whiskers, which it uses to detect prey on the seafloor. It lives closely associated with pack ice and feeds mainly on bottom-dwelling fish and invertebrates such as clams and crabs.
The Harp seal is recognized for its silvery-grey coat with a distinctive black “harp” pattern on its back as adults, while pups are born as bright white “whitecoats.” It is highly social and often seen travelling and resting in large groups on pack ice.
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