Bearded Seal
Erignathus barbatus
The bearded seal, also known as the square-flipper seal, is a medium-sized pinniped that is found in and near to the Arctic Ocean. It gets its generic name from two Greek words that refer to its heavy jaw. The other part of its Linnaean name means bearded and refers to its most characteristic feature, the conspicuous and abundant whiskers. When dry, these whiskers curl elegantly, giving the bearded seal a "raffish" look.
- Scientific name
- Erignathus barbatus
- Family
- Phocidae
- IUCN status
- LC