Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica) This seal species is classified in family Phocidae with the ringed seal (P. hispida) and the Caspian seal (P. caspica). (more) Baikal seal mammal Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Phoca sibirica, Pusa sibirica, nerpa Written by Kelly Gisonna Kelly Gisonna, John P. Rafferty John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to... John P. Rafferty•All Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Nov 18, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Also called: nerpa (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is unique about the Baikal sealu2019s habitat? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The Baikal seal is the only living seal that exclusively inhabits freshwater environments, specifically in Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia, which is located far from any marine environment. The seal also occurs in some of the rivers that feed the lake, such as the Angara River, which serves the city of Irkutsk." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What do Baikal seals primarily eat? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Baikal seals hunt longfin Baikal sculpin, golomyanka (big Baikal oilfish), other fishes, and mollusks and other invertebrates. They can dive up to 400 meters (1,300 feet), and they can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes in search of food. During the winter months when the lake is covered with ice, they cut holes in the ice with their claws." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What are the main threats to Baikal seals? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The main threats to the Baikal sealu2019s long-term survival include water pollution, which has led to exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) and DDT, and climate change, which could affect ice thickness and duration, impacting their breeding and feeding habits. Although the species is hunted by brown bears and people, the effect on the population is minimal." } } ] } Top Questions What is unique about the Baikal seal’s habitat? The Baikal seal is the only living seal that exclusively inhabits freshwater environments, specifically in Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia, which is located far from any marine environment. The seal also occurs in some of the rivers that feed the lake, such as the Angara River, which serves the city of Irkutsk.

　　What do Baikal seals primarily eat? Baikal seals hunt longfin Baikal sculpin, golomyanka (big Baikal oilfish), other fishes, and mollusks and other invertebrates. They can dive up to 400 meters (1,300 feet), and they can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes in search of food. During the winter months when the lake is covered with ice, they cut holes in the ice with their claws.

　　What are the main threats to Baikal seals? The main threats to the Baikal seal’s long-term survival include water pollution, which has led to exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) and DDT, and climate change, which could affect ice thickness and duration, impacting their breeding and feeding habits. Although the species is hunted by brown bears and people, the effect on the population is minimal.

　　Baikal seal, (Pusa sibirica), species of small earless seals that inhabits the waters and coastline areas of Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia. It also occurs in some of the rivers that feed the lake, such as the Angara River, which serves the city of Irkutsk. The Baikal seal is the only living seal that inhabits freshwater environments exclusively. The Baikal seal is classified in family Phocidae with the ringed seal (P. hispida) and the Caspian seal (P. caspica). Adult Baikal seals grow to a length of about 1.2–1.4 meters (3.9–4.6 feet) and will range in weight from 50–130 kg (110–285 ...(100 of 993 words)

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