Plate 22. The Square Flipper Seal. Erignathus barbatus (Fabricius), Gill.

Image ID: figb0278, Historic NMFS Collection

Source:
The NOAA Photo Library http://www.photolib.noaa.gov
The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Adminstration (NOAA) http://www.noaa.gov/

The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) or square flipper seal, is a medium-sized seal that is found in and near to the Arctic Ocean. It gets its generic name from two Greek words (eri and gnathos) that refer to its heavy jaw. The other part of its Linnean name means bearded and refers to its most characteristic feature, the conspicuous and very abundant whiskers. When dry, these whiskers curl very elegantly, giving the bearded seal a raffish look. Distinguishing features include square foreflippers and thick bristles on their muzzles. Adults are greyish-brown in colour, darker on the back, rarely with a few faint spots on the back or dark spots on the flanks. Occasionally the face and neck are reddish-brown. Bearded seal pups are born with a greyish-brown natal fur with scattered patches of white on the back and head. Bearded seals are unique in the subfamily phocinae in having two pairs of nipples, a feature they share with monk seals.