The Ladoga ringed seal (Pusa hispida ladogensis) is a freshwater subspecies of the Ringed seal which are found entirely in Lake Ladoga. It was isolated in freshwater lakes and separated from the Arctic ringed seal. This subspecies is related to the even smaller population of Saimaa ringed seals in Lake Saimaa, a lake that flows into Ladoga through the Vuoksi River.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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PiscivoresA piscivore is a carnivorous animal that eats primarily fish. Piscivorous is equivalent to the Greek-derived word ichthyophagous. Fish were the die...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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AquaticAn aquatic animal is an animal, either vertebrate or invertebrate, which lives in water for most or all of its life. It may breathe air or extract ...
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NatatorialNatatorial animals are those adapted for swimming. Some fish use their pectoral fins as the primary means of locomotion, sometimes termed labriform...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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HerdingA herd is a social grouping of certain animals of the same species, either wild or domestic. The form of collective animal behavior associated with...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThis subspecies has four variations of coats. About 47% of Ladoga ringed seals have a dark brown coat with lighter ring-shaped patterns, 29% have a dark brown coat with lighter vein-like patterns, and 17% have a light brown coat with a dark dorsal belt as well as faint rings and spots. The coats of the remaining 7% are not described.
These ringed seals occur only in the freshwater Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia.
Little is known about the habits of Ladoga ringed seals. In April, Ladoga ringed seals begin to haul out up onto the ice to bask in the sun. They molt during this time until June and feed less. During the summer season when ice is not available, Ladoga ringed seals haul out on islands and shorelines and form large herds of up to 300 individuals during the open water period. In general, Ringed seals are active during the day. They usually stay near holes or cracks so that they can get quickly into the water if they need to. They also make lairs from snow to protect themselves. While feeding, Ringed seals can dive to depths of 35 to 150 ft (11 to 46 m).
This subspecies is a top predator in the Lake Ladoga. They are carnivores (piscivores) and feed on a wide variety of fish.
Female Ladoga ringed seals give birth to pups between March and early April. Each female bears a single pup. The young are usually weaned after 6 to 8 weeks. Females become reproductively mature at the age of 4-5 years, while males reach maturity at the age of 6 to 7 years.
At the beginning of the 20th century the total population of the Ladoga ringed seal was approximately 20,000 and has declined dramatically due to overhunting. Hunting of the seals was banned entirely in 1980, but some illegal poaching still occurs. Other serious threats to this subspecies include entanglement in fisheries netting, industrialization in the areas surrounding Lake Ladoga, fuel spills from water vessels, and the disturbance of their warm-weather sunning places by human recreational activities.
According to the Seal Conservation Society, the total population size of the Ladoga ringed seal is 2,000 individuals. Currently, this subspecies is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are increasing.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...