Changes

Adults have black heads and silver-gray coats with dark blotches of varying sizes and shapes across their bodies. Pups are called "blue-backs" for their coat of blue-gray on their backs and whitish bellies; this coat is shed after 14 months of age when they molt.

Adults have black heads and silver-gray coats with dark blotches of varying sizes and shapes across their bodies. Pups are called "blue-backs" for their coat of blue-gray on their backs and whitish bellies; this coat is shed after 14 months of age when they molt.

Adult males measure around 8 feet (2.5 m) long and weigh about 660 pounds (300 kg). Adult females are noticeably smaller, measuring around 7 feet (2.2 m) in length and weighing about 440 pounds (200 kg).

Adult males measure around 8 feet (2.5 m) long and weigh about 660 pounds (300 kg). Adult females are noticeably smaller, measuring around 7 feet (2.2 m) in length and weighing about 440 pounds (200 kg).

The hooded seal is unique for the elastic bi-lobed nasal cavity, or "hood", that adult males can inflate and extend from the front of their face to the top of their head. Sexually mature males also have an elastic nasal septum, which, when inflated, resembles a pinkish red balloon, to attract females' attention during mating season and to display hostility towards other males.

The hooded seal is unique for the elastic bi-lobed nasal cavity, or "hood", that adult males can inflate and extend from the front of their face to the top of their head. Sexually mature males also have an elastic nasal septum, which, when inflated, resembles a pinkish red balloon, to attract females' attention during mating season and to display hostility towards other males.

The hooded seal is an unsocial species and is more aggressive and territorial than other seals, migrating and remaining alone for most of the year except during the mating season. Females mature in about 3-6 years and males in 5-7 years, when they begin their annual migratory cycle. They gather in the spring at their usual breeding grounds for 2-3 weeks and produce offspring, after which they linger in the area to molt before beginning their annual period of migration for the remainder of the year. Hooded seals live for about 30-35 years.

The hooded seal is an unsocial species and is more aggressive and territorial than other seals, migrating and remaining alone for most of the year except during the mating season. Females mature in about 3–6 years and males in 5–7 years, when they begin their annual migratory cycle. They gather in the spring at their usual breeding grounds for 2–3 weeks and produce offspring, after which they linger in the area to molt before beginning their annual period of migration for the remainder of the year. Hooded seals live for about 30–35 years.

At birth, hooded seal pups measure about 3 feet (1 m) long and weight around 55 pounds (25 kg). Hooded seal pups are weaned between 3-5 days, the shortest time of any known mammal. Within the lactation period, the pup's body weight nearly doubles, increasing from about 50 pounds to 90 pounds (22 kg to 42 kg) in 4 days (Bowen, 1985). After they are weaned, pups begin to find food alone, mainly feeding on crustaceans, and improve their swimming and diving skills. There are limited data and observations on juvenile hooded seal available, because they appear to spend a great amount of time in the water and in remote areas (Kovacs, 2002).

At birth, hooded seal pups measure about 3 feet (1 m) long and weight around 55 pounds (25 kg). Hooded seal pups are weaned between 3–5 days, the shortest time of any known mammal. Within the lactation period, the pup's body weight nearly doubles, increasing from about 50 pounds to 90 pounds (22 kg to 42 kg) in 4 days (Bowen, 1985). After they are weaned, pups begin to find food alone, mainly feeding on crustaceans, and improve their swimming and diving skills. There are limited data and observations on juvenile hooded seal available, because they appear to spend a great amount of time in the water and in remote areas (Kovacs, 2002).

Hooded seals usually dive for food to depths of about 325-1,950 feet (100-600 m) for 15 minutes, but have been found to dive to over 3,280 feet (1000 m) for up to an hour each time. Adult hooded seals feed on squid, starfish, mussels, and fish such as Greenland halibut, redfish, cod, capelin, and herring.

Hooded seals usually dive for food to depths of about 325-1,950 feet (100–600 m) for 15 minutes, but have been found to dive to over 3,280 feet (1000 m) for up to an hour each time. Adult hooded seals feed on squid, starfish, mussels, and fish such as Greenland halibut, redfish, cod, capelin, and herring.

==Habitat and distribution==

==Habitat and distribution==

==References==

==References==

*  Kovacs, K. M. (2002). "Hooded seal ''Cystophora cristata''". Pp. 580-582 in W. F. Perrin, B. Wursig, and J. G. M. Thiewissen, eds. ''Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals''; Academic Press.

*  Kovacs, K. M. (2002). "Hooded seal ''Cystophora cristata''". pp. 580–582 in W. F. Perrin, B. Wursig, and J. G. M. Thiewissen, eds. ''Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals''; Academic Press.

* Bowen, W. D., O. T. Oftedal and D. J. Boness (1985). "Birth to weaning in 4 days: Remarkable growth in the hooded seal, ''Cystophora cristata''". ''Canadian Journal of Zoology'', 63(12), 2841-2846.

* Bowen, W. D., O. T. Oftedal and D. J. Boness (1985). "Birth to weaning in 4 days: Remarkable growth in the hooded seal, ''Cystophora cristata''". ''Canadian Journal of Zoology'', 63(12), 2841-2846.

* Folkow, L.P., and A.S. Blix (1995). "Distribution and diving behavior of hooded seals". Pp. 193-200 in A.S. Blix, S. Walloe, and Ø. Ulltang (Eds.) ''Whales, Seals, Fish and Man''. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam.

* Folkow, L.P., and A.S. Blix (1995). "Distribution and diving behavior of hooded seals". pp. 193–200 in A.S. Blix, S. Walloe, and Ø. Ulltang (Eds.) ''Whales, Seals, Fish and Man''. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam.

* ''Report of the Working Group on ICES/NAFO Working Group on Harp and Hooded Seals'' (WGHARP), 12-16 June 2006, ICES Headquarters. ICES CM 2006/ACFM:32. 28 pp.

* ''Report of the Working Group on ICES/NAFO Working Group on Harp and Hooded Seals'' (WGHARP), 12–16 June 2006, ICES Headquarters. ICES CM 2006/ACFM:32. 28 pp.

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[[Category: Marine Mammals]]

[[Category:Marine Mammals]]