Pacific Northwest, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic: Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, Atlantic Ocean, Canada Quebec, Alaska, Greenland, Canada Newfoundland, Norway, Russia, Japan (Ref. 1394), Canada, Iceland, UK, France, Spain, Portugal, China, Kamchatka, Laptev Sea (Ref. 1522); Erignathus barbatus barbatus: Canada, Greenland, Russia, Canada Newfoundland, Iceland, Norway, UK, France, Spain, Portugal; Erignathus barbatus nauticus: Russia, Canada, Laptev Sea, Alaska, Japan, China, Sea of Okhotsk, Kamchatka. |
They usually restrict themselves to sea ice and stay in relatively shallow areas of continuously moving ice, where open leads and polynyas regularly form. In some areas, they are known to haul out on shore, ascend streams, or live a pelagic existence away from ice and land for long periods of time. Feeds on many species of small invertebrates that live on, and in, the bottom; and fish (Ref. 1394). They usually restrict themselves to sea ice and stay in relatively shallow areas of continuously moving ice, where open leads and polynyas regularly form. In some areas, they are known to haul out on shore, ascend streams, or live a pelagic existence away from ice and land for long periods of time. Feeds on many species of small invertebrates that live on, and in, the bottom; fish (Ref. 1394). |