With their long white whiskers, it′s easy to see where the bearded seal gets its name! And the look isn′t just for show: these large seals use their sensitive whiskers to find prey on the seafloor.
The largest species of seal in the Arctic, bearded seals reach lengths of about 2.1-2.4 meters (7-8 feet) long and weigh up to 360 kilograms (800 pounds). Along with their distinctive mustaches, they stand out from other seals due to their square-shaped flippers and relatively small heads. Their whiskers, called vibrissae, help them search for bottom-dwelling prey like crabs, clams, shrimps, and fish near the ocean floor.
Found throughout the Arctic and sub-Arctic, bearded seals prefer shallow coastal waters with drifting sea ice. They will haul out onto ice flows to rest and molt. Even when out of the water, seals stick to the edges of ice flows, often with their heads facing the water, in case they need to dive back in the water to avoid predators like polar bears. Bearded seals are solitary and territorial, tending to keep to separate ice flows unless it′s breeding season. When it′s time to mate, male bearded seals produce complex, minute-long songs, which they sing while swimming in slow circles – either to court females or to mark their territory to other males.