Ringed seals are small seals living in the northern hemisphere. They are especially adapted to live and breed in the arctic ice, building ice caves above their breathing holes to protect the pups from predators such as polar bears.

Subspecies
5 subspecies: P. h. hispida, P. h. botnica, P. h. ochotensis in marine habitats and P. h. ladogensis and P. h. saimensis in freshwater.

Life span
30-40 years.

Statistics
100-157cm long, with weights varying between 32-140kg depending on subspecies. Males are also slightly larger than females.

Physical description
The smallest of the arctic seals, the coats of ringed seals varies across their range. Generally they are silvery to dark grey on the underside and darker on the back with small, pale ring-like markings over their sides and back. The young are born with a white coat, and gain their adult coat (lacking the rings at first) at about 6-8 weeks.

Distribution
From the Arctic Ocean as far south as Southern California, and in lake Ladoga and Lake Saimaa in Finland.

Habitat
Marine waters of the Northern hemisphere and occasional freshwater lakes.

Diet
Fish and planktonic crustaceans.

Behaviour
Ringed seals are adapted to living on stable arctic sea ice. Being small they can construct lairs under the snow above their breathing holes and give birth inside them. Adults often stay in the same area year round, hauling out onto ice or rarely, land, where they are always wary of predators.

Reproduction
Females reach sexual maturity at 3-7 years old, males at 5-7. The females give birth to a single pup in March-April in snow caves excavated above their breeding holes. The pups are very small, weighing only 4-5kg. Weaning varies depending on the subspecies (and habitat) between 21 days and 5-8 weeks.

Conservation status
Currently most subspecies of ringed seals are not thought to be threatened, although changes to the Arctic ice because of global warming is a concern. The saimaa ringed seal (P. h. saimensis) in Finland is classified as Endangered.