Hooded Seal

About the Hooded Seal

Males have an inflatable nasal cavity (hood) that they can expand into a large red balloon from their nose, used for display and aggression. They can also inflate a nasal septum that looks like a bright red bubble emerging from one nostril. Pups are weaned after only 4 days, the shortest nursing period of any mammal. During those 4 days the pup doubles its weight from 24 to 48 kg. They can dive to 1,000 meters. They are solitary compared to other seals. They are heavily hunted in Canada and Norway. They can live 30+ years.