Caspian seal

The Caspian seal is a small seal species found only in the Caspian Sea. It is endangered, with threats including bycatch, pollution, disease, and habitat change.

Earless seal: A seal in the family Phocidae, whose members lack external ear flaps and move awkwardly on land. The Caspian seal belongs to this family of true seals.
Caspian seal migration: The seasonal movement of Caspian seals between northern winter breeding areas and other parts of the sea. Migration brings adults to northern ice for breeding and disperses them afterward.
Caspian seal bycatch: The accidental capture and drowning of Caspian seals in fishing gear. Fishing nets kill seals directly and remain a major human-caused threat.
Caspian seal population: The total number and distribution of Caspian seals across the Caspian Sea. Population estimates document a steep decline from historical abundance.
Caspian Sea: The world's largest inland body of water, bordered by Europe and Asia. This landlocked sea contains the species' entire natural range.
Caspian seal diet: The fish and invertebrates eaten by Caspian seals, especially small schooling fish. Diet links seal condition and survival to changing prey populations.
Caspian seal disease: Infectious illness affecting Caspian seals, including outbreaks associated with mass mortality. Disease outbreaks have caused substantial mortality in already pressured populations.
Caspian seal mass mortality events: Episodes in which unusually large numbers of Caspian seals die within a short period. Recorded die-offs expose how disease and environmental stress can combine.
Pinniped: A group of aquatic mammals that includes seals, sea lions, and walruses. The Caspian seal is one member of this broader marine-mammal group.
Caspian seal reproduction: The breeding cycle in which Caspian seals mate in winter and give birth to a single pup on ice. The annual cycle depends on suitable winter ice and sheltered pupping habitat.

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