Spotted Seal Skull Replica
$242.00
The spotted seal is a social Arctic hunter with a dog-like snout. This replica shows the unique skull shape and wide nostrils of this resilient species.
- Description
- Additional information
Description
Spotted seal skull replica measures 7.9 x 4.7 x 3.5 inches. The Phoca largha skull is a museum-quality polyurethane resin cast from a California Academy of Sciences specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and mandible). 1:1 scale. Made in USA.
Spotted seals, also known as largha seals, thrive across the North Pacific’s icy fringes. These social animals often form massive colonies on shifting ice floes while hunting for schooling fish, squid and crustaceans. While they look like harbor seals, spotted seals possess a unique internal air sac and a more specialized dental structure for their Arctic environment.
Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Clade: Pinnipedia
- Family: Phocidae
- Genus: Phoca
- Species: P. largha
- Binomial name: Phoca largha
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The spotted seal replica works well alongside other Pacific pinnipeds that share its freezing habitat. You can pair this with a ribbon seal skull replica to show how different ice-dwelling species evolved unique bone structures for the same environments.
Researchers use specific bone markers, such as the diameter of tooth sockets, to distinguish between species like the ringed seal skull replica and the bearded seal skull replica. Together these three highlight incredible diversity of marine mammals currently found along the Arctic and North Pacific coastlines.
Additional information
| Weight | 6.0 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7.9 × 4.7 × 3.5 in |
| International Seal Day - March 22nd | Every year on March 22nd, the International Day of the Seal promotes the conservation of seals worldwide. It’s also a day to celebrate this amazing marine mammal. A seal is a type of animal called a pinniped, which is Latin for “fin-footed.” Other pinnipeds include the walrus and sea lion. What makes seals different than other pinnipeds is that they don’t really use their flippers to walk. When on land, they usually slide around on their bellies. In the water, their flippers help them swim really fast. Seals are also much quieter and smaller than their sea lion and walrus cousins. |
