RIBBON SEAL

THIS HANDSOME SPECIES, ALSO CALLED THE BANDED SEAL, GETS ITS COMMON NAME FROM THE DISTINCTIVE COAT OF THE MALE (ABOVE) :A BACKGROUND OF DEEP, CHOCOLATE BROWN, INTERRUPTED BY BOARD, CREAMY -WHITE STRIPES THAT ENCIRCLE THE NECK, FRONT FLIPPERS, AND THE RUMP. THE FEMALE IS MUCH PALER AND GRAYER THAN HER MATE ADULTS OF BOTH SEXES AVERAGE ABOUT 5 FEET (1.5M) IN LENGTH, AND 200 POUNDS (91 KG)....

IN WEIGHT.RAREST OF ALL NORTHERN SEALS, THE SPECIES OCCURS IN TWO DISTINCT POPULATION: ONE GROUP OF ABOUT 100,000 IN THE BERING-CHUKCHI SEA AREA; THE OTHER---PERHAPS 130,000 SEALS---FARTHER WESTWARD  IN THE SEA OF OKHOTSK. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY INTERMINGLING OF THE TWO.......