[1] Baikal seals can dive up to depths of 400 m (1,300 ft)[4] and more than 40 minutes. T The maximum reported size is 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) in length and 130 kg (290 lb) in weight. [1] The seal pups are typically hidden in a den, but can fall prey to smaller land predators such as the red fox, the sable and the white-tailed eagle.[4]. [1] Most dives last less than 10 minutes and generally only 2–4 minutes. The Baikal seal is one of the smallest true seals. Adults typically grow to 1.1–1.4 m (3 ft 7 in–4 ft 7 in) in length with a body mass from 63 to 70 kg (139 to 154 lb). The seals are estimated to have inhabited Lake Baikal for some two million years.[7]. In spring, when the ice melts and the dens usually collapse, the pup is left to fend for itself. The largest is the male elephant seal (genus Mirounga leonina) of coastal California (including…. Earth Island Institute. - Olga Kamenskaya - Olga Kamenskaya 2002. Growth continues until they are 20 to 25 years old. [1], The only known natural predator of adult Baikal seals is the brown bear, but this is not believed to occur frequently. At 12,248 square miles, it is one of the largest lakes in the world. Statistics Adult Baikal seals measure 1.2-1.4m in length and weigh 63-70kg, the males slightly larger than the females. [4] A total of 29 fish species have been recorded in the diet. Harrold, A. They have streamlined bodies and four limbs that are modified into flippers. Adult seals can grow up to about 1.4 meters or 4 feet and 7 inches in length, and weighs … Since 2008, the Baikal seal has been listed as a Least Concern species on the IUCN Red List. The areas of the lake in which the Baikal seals reside change depending on the season, as well as other environmental factors. Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica) in water. The males tend to stay in the water, under the ice, all winter. Description [edit]. Due to the low light conditions under the ice the seal’s eyes grew surprisingly large in comparison to the body size. As the coat weathers, it becomes brownish. The chemicals are speculated to concentrate up the food chain and weaken the Baikal seal's immune system, making them susceptible to diseases such as canine distemper and the plague, which was the cause of a serious Baikal seal epidemic that resulted in the deaths of 5,000–6,500 animals in 1987–1988. They then mark the female's den with a strong, musky odor, which can be smelled by another male if he approaches. Adults typically grow to 1.1–1.4 m (3 ft 7 in–4 ft 7 in) in length with a body mass from 63 to 70 kg (139 to 154 lb). Pups weigh 3–3.5 kg at birth and are approximately 70 cm long; their lanugo is grayish-white. Baikal seals are one of the only few seal species capable of producing twins. The seals originated from a Pusa (ringed seal) common ancestor, and will have - several million years ago - migrated freely between the Arctic Ocean and the Tethys Sea via open waterways. [1], In the last century, the kill quota for hunting Baikal seals was raised several times, most notably after the fur industry boomed in the late 1970s and when official counts began indicating more Baikal seals were present than previously known. The seal's throat is whitish, and it features black spots which give the animal its name. In early autumn, before the entire lake freezes over, they migrate to bays and coves and hunt Kessler's sculpin, a fish that lives in silty areas and, as a result, usually contains grit and silt in its digestive system. There are significant annual variations in the weight, with lowest weight in the spring and highest weight, about 38–42% more, in the fall. The Baikal seal is one of the smallest true seals. 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