Where do Baikal seals live?

They are endemic to Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia, making them the only major pinniped species that lives exclusively in fresh water.

What do Baikal seals eat?

Mostly golomyanka, a cottoid oilfish found only in Lake Baikal, which makes up over 90% of their winter and spring diet, along with other fish species and amphipods.

How deep can Baikal seals dive?

They typically dive for 2 to 4 minutes, but they are capable of diving as deep as 400 meters and staying underwater for more than 40 minutes.

Baikal Sealバイカルアザラシ

Pusa sibiricaLC— Least Concern

The Baikal seal is the world's only pinniped that lives exclusively in fresh water, found nowhere but Lake Baikal in Siberia. It feeds mainly on golomyanka, an oilfish unique to the lake, diving as deep as 400 meters in search of prey. With a stable population of roughly 80,000 to 100,000 and no major current threats, it is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Baikal Seal (reference photo) — Photo: Sergey Gabdurakhmanov from Mountain View, USA / CC BY 2.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Carnivora / Phocidae Source
Distribution: The Baikal seal is endemic to Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia, making it the only major pinniped species that lives exclusively in fresh water. It occasionally ranges into rivers flowing into the lake. Source

Did You Know?

Adapted to Lake Baikal's exceptional water clarity, the Baikal seal has unusually large eyes, and the frontal bone between them narrows to just 3 mm wide. Source
The species is thought to have inhabited Lake Baikal for around 2 million years, and remains one of the very few seal species found exclusively in fresh water. Source
Unusually for a true seal, Baikal seal females sometimes give birth to twins. Source

Where to See This Species

7 facilities · 0 individuals

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNではLC（低懸念）ですが、単一の湖に限られた固有種です。

Habitat

ロシア・シベリアのバイカル湖とその湖氷。

Threats

湖水の汚染
漁業との競合
気候変動による湖氷環境の変化

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

湖の水質と生息環境の保全
個体群のモニタリング
飼育下での繁殖と教育展示

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Where do Baikal seals live?: They are endemic to Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia, making them the only major pinniped species that lives exclusively in fresh water. Source
What do Baikal seals eat?: Mostly golomyanka, a cottoid oilfish found only in Lake Baikal, which makes up over 90% of their winter and spring diet, along with other fish species and amphipods. Source
How deep can Baikal seals dive?: They typically dive for 2 to 4 minutes, but they are capable of diving as deep as 400 meters and staying underwater for more than 40 minutes. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org