Distribution and diving behaviour of hooded seals

摘要: Abstract Hooded seals, Cystophora cristata, are abundant in the North Atlantic. This paper reviews current knowledge on distribution and dive behaviour of these seals. The stock which breeds sea ice near Jan Mayen may count about 250,000 animals, but little is known where they stay what eat outside pupping season (March/April) moult (July). We used satellite tags to monitor movements and/or depths durations 19 we obtained data ≈12,000 locations ≈120,000 dives, between July 1992 1993. After moult, most seals dispersed travel, once or repeatedly, off Greenland distant waters Faeroe Islands, south Bear Island, Irminger Sea. breeding, all again returned travel northern Ireland, Faeroes Norwegian coast. repeatedly >1,000 m submerged for >52 min, usually 100–600 depth. suggest that dietary preferences, even fish consumption hooded different areas be assessed by comparing their with potential prey.