The baikal seal, lake baikal seal, or nerpa pusa sibirica, is a species of earless seal endemic to lake baikal in siberia, russia. The baikal seal is the smallest in the world, and exactly how and when the species colonised the ancient siberian lake is still a mystery. It is the worlds oldest lake, dating back 2530 million years ago, and the worlds deepest lake, reaching an estimated depth of 5,315 feet. Arctic marine mammals atlantic spotted dolphin atlantic whitesided dolphin australian sea lion australian snubfin dolphin baculum baiji baikal seal balance.
Jun 10, 2019 the nerpas themselves looked in good condition and were as happy as any seal i have seen in safari parks elsewhere. Baikal seals are the only seal species to live entirely in freshwater. Jul 15, 2014 lake baikal in southern siberia is home to 80,000 seals. There were about animals found dead over the past. The biggest is the southern elephant seal, at over 5 m 16ft and 3 ton 6,600lb, making it also the largest carnivoran. It is an evolutionary mystery how they came to be in these locations, so far from the sea, but there must once have been channels connecting these bodies of water with the ocean. Aug 22, 2012 with minimum temperatures of 20c most of the winter, lake baikal is frozen for half the year. Seals in captivity the much publicised rescue in midsepember of an apparently albinoid northern fur seal pup from tyuleni island in the okhotsk sea turned out to be not a rescue at all. The baikal seal is one of the smallest true seals and the only exclusively freshwater pinniped species. Marine mammal books for adults and children seal sitters.
These seals have been blamed for a decrease in the numbers of omul, a species of fish that lives in lake baikal. It is the oldest existing freshwater lake on earth 20 million25 million years old, as well as the deepest continental body of water, having a maximum depth of 5,315 feet 1,620 meters. They spend their days zooming through the water in pursuit of delicious fish, crowding onto rocks to sun themselves, and, when winter hits. An analysis of the existing seal industry has enabled us to make a number of proposals to government agencies aimed at reorganization of the seal industry at baikal. Seals and sea lions are common and widespread within the animal display industry. Most pinnipeds and some sirenians began to appear in exhibits in the late 1800s and early 1900s perrin et al.
In addition, harbor seals may visit estuaries, lakes and rivers and sometimes stay as long as a year. It is the worlds oldest lake, dating from 25 to 30 million years ago, and the worlds largest lake, 395 miles wide and more than 5,000 feet deep. It is still a great mystery how nerpa appeared in the centre of the asian continent, if its relatives live in the northern arctic regions. The lake is 2400 km far from the arctic ocean where the lake waters flow through the siberian. As a member of the former category and one who harbors hopes of an eventual return visit i could relate to many of the authors travel experiences.
For more information on handrearing please refer to the following books by l. The caspian seal in the caspian sea, and the baikal seal in lake baikal in russia, are both landlocked seals with no access to the ocean. This edition provides new content on anthropogenic concerns, latest information on emerging threats such as ocean noise, and impacts of. With the help of over 7,000 of the worlds best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, featured multimedia factfiles for more than 16,000 endangered species. Baikal seals are silvery gray in color, although some are spotted. The baikal seal, lake baikal seal or nerpa pusa sibirica, is a species of earless seal endemic to lake baikal in siberia, russia. Automotive free delivery possible on eligible purchases. The baikal seal is the only freshwater species of its kind and can stay under the surface for up to an hour and reach incredible depths of 1,000ft. Encyclopedia of marine mammals 3rd edition elsevier. Youll learn about its habitat and predators, as well as some adaptations and interesting facts. Seals range in size from the 1 m 3 ft 3 in and 45 kg 99 lb baikal seal to the 5 m 16 ft and 3,200 kg 7,100 lb southern elephant seal, which is also the largest member of the order carnivora. Other species known to enter freshwater include california sea lions and south american sea lions. The smallest seal is the baikal seal at around 1 metre 3ft 3in long and 45 kilograms 100lbs. Dec 14, 2007 baikal seal in the aquarium of the limnological museum.
Lake baikal in southern siberia is home to 80,000 seals. The whole population is located in the open baikal. It is the largest freshwater lake of eurasia, with a width up to 50 mi 80 km and a length of c. Aug 22, 2015 the baikal seals are named after lake baikal, which is the only place in the world where these special little seals are found. The slopes of the mountains around lake baikal are well wooded with alder, aspen, birch, and larch. The encyclopedia of marine mammals, third edition covers the ecology, behavior, conservation, evolution, form and function of whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, manatees, dugongs, otters and polar bears. Baikal seals olkhonsky district, russia atlas obscura. It is still a great mystery how seals appeared in the centre of the asian continent, if its relatives live in the northern arctic regions. Many species of pinnipeds fast during the annual moult and also in captivity they may. Pdf this chapter discusses if captivity of marine mammals is justified. Webber has studied marine mammals in the wild and captivity since 1977.
Baikal seal in the aquarium of the limnological museum. The baikal seal phoca sibirica, the so called nerpa, is the crown of the siberian lakes great ecosystem. Lake baikal in siberia is itself a recordholding site. Til it remains a scientific mystery how baikal seals. Til it remains a scientific mystery how baikal seals originally came to lake baikal, hundreds of kilometers from any ocean. Lake baikal, lake located in the southern part of eastern siberia in russia. Jan 01, 1992 the 1990 journey of matthiessen, paul winter and a group of russian environmentalists who traveled around siberias lake baikal, the worlds oldest and deepest lake, containing onefifth of the planets fresh water, is chronicled in diary form. Individuals are also sometimes found wandering up the rivers surrounding the lake, one seal having been found 400km upstream. Oct 31, 2017 the baikal seal is the smallest in the world, and exactly how and when the species colonised the ancient siberian lake is still a mystery. Animal mammal seal baikal seal information, facts, pictures and puzzles image information for kids seal baikal seal information for kids check out the top 100 animals and skyenimals. In this lesson, well take a look at an inhabitant of the worlds oldest lake. Oct 02, 2015 the baikal seal is the only freshwater species of its kind and can stay under the surface for up to an hour and reach incredible depths of 1,000ft. Baikal article about baikal by the free dictionary.
Wildscreens arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the worlds biggest encyclopaedia of life on earth. Baikal is one of the few continental reservoirs inhabited by nerpa the baikal seal. Since 1965, during the main hunting period during ice cover using sledges the seal industry has switched over to fur production and hunting for young seals. Based on data obtained by argos satellitelinked transmitters, most dives of baikal seals are to depths of 1050 m, although a few dives exceed 300 m. The baikal seal, one of the worlds smallest pinnipeds, is in fact the only pinniped species that lives solely in freshwater. There are many enjoyable elements of this book for anyone who has been or plans to go to lake baikal. Baikal seals are uniformly dark silver gray dorsally and light yellowish gray ventrally fig.
More than 2,000 kinds of living organisms inhabit lake baikal region, and of these only one is a mammal the baikal seal. Baikal seals are uniformly dark silver gray dorsally and light yellowish gray ventrally. The baikal seals are named after lake baikal, which is the only place in the world where these special little seals are found. Like the caspian seal, it is related to the arctic ringed seal. The baikal seal pusa sibirica belongs to the genus pusa, along with the other two species that make up this widely allopatric. Symptomatic treatment of the disease is available in zoos. They spend their days zooming through the water in pursuit of delicious fish, crowding onto.
Baikal seal nerpa in focus lake baikal forum tripadvisor. Estimated to have inhabited lake baikal for some two million years, the baikal seal is the only true freshwater seal on earth. The book encompasses cetacean, pinniped, and sirenian species, as well as. Many zoos, aquaria, and marine parks exhibit seals and sea lions, often presenting public seal shows. May 17, 2009 baikal seal is an endemic specie of lake baikal. In sacred seathe first major journalistic examination of baikal in englishveteran environmental writer peter thomson and his younger brother undertake a kind of pilgrimage, journeying 25,000 miles by land and sea to reach this extraordinary lake. The seal usually lives under the water when the lake is covered with ice decemberearly may. But this is not true, as the main source of food for the baikal seal is the fish golomyanka. The baikal seal can give birth to twins, one of the few seal species to do so. The baikal seal possesses enlarged eyes that enable it to. The baikal seal is the only freshwater seal species, and is endemic to lake baikal of siberia. In captivity, an adult baikal seal consumes up to 5. The baikal seal pusa sibirica belongs to the genus pusa, along with the other two species that make up this widely allopatric groupingthe ringed seal p.
This book is licensed under the terms of the creative commons attribution share alike. The baikal seal or nerpa is pusa sibirica formerly classified as phoca sibirina, which is across all the lake, but nowhere else. This is probably better for young kids than teenagers like our son, but if you like marine life and only have a short period of time this is probably the closest you are going to get to a freshwater baikal seal. The baikal seal is the only freshwater species, though some ringed seals live in freshwater lakes in russia close to the baltic sea. At baikal they find a place of sublime beauty, deep history, and immense natural power. The baikal seal, lake baikal seal or nerpa pusa sibirica, is a species of earless seal endemic. Salmon, omul of the salmon family, bullheads and peculiar fish, called the golominka, which is almost one mass of fat, are typical baikal fishes. The northern phocids have karyotype 2n 34 chromosomes in bearded and hooded seals, and 2n 32 chromosomes in the remaining eight species grey, harbour, spotted, ringed, caspian, baikal, harp and ribbon seals. Known locally as the nerpa and referred to as pusa sibirica, the baikal seal is found only in russias isolated lake baikal, a designated world heritage site and. It is still a great mystery how nerpa appeared in the centre of the asian continent, if its. The baikal seal phoca sibirica of lake baikal in siberia, russia, is the smallest at 1. Finland respectively and the baikal seal in lake baikal in siberia. The seal spends a lot of energy in winter as it has to keep an air hole free from ice and to dive to large depths because the main mass of golomyanka and sculpins are located at depth of over 100 m.