17 June 2025: New chapter published on hooded seals in marine mammal encyclopaedia

A new chapter by Haug, Folkow, and Biuw, titled “Hooded Seal Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)”, has been published in the Handbook of the Mammals of Europe (online update 2025). This chapter provides an updated overview of the biology, distribution, ecology, and conservation of the hooded seal.

Hooded seals are found in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and are known for their unique inflatable nasal sac, which is present in adult males. The chapter covers topics including the species’ distinct life history, foraging behaviour, and strong association with sea ice during breeding and moulting periods. It also discusses threats such as climate change, by-catch, and historical hunting, as well as current knowledge gaps in their population trends.

Read the full chapter here: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65038-8_140-1

Photo credit: Jenny E. Ross