Ungava seal

Ungava seal
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Critically Imperiled (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Parvorder:	Pinnipedia
Family:	Phocidae
Genus:	Phoca
Species:	P. vitulina
Subspecies:	P. v. mellonae
Trinomial name
Phoca vitulina mellonae Doutt, 1942 [3]

The Ungava seal (Phoca vitulina mellonae) is a subspecies of Harbor seal, endemic to a small series of freshwater lakes in the Ungava Peninsula, located in northern Quebec. It is noted for being one of the few examples of freshwater seals. It was thought that fewer than 100 individuals remained in 2020. ^{[4] : 40} The Ungava seal is currently classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as endangered. ^[1]

Evolution

The Ungava seal is a subspecies of the Harbor seal. Although very little is known about them due to limited studies, it is hypothesized that they entered their habitat using the Tyrrell sea anywhere between 3000 and 8000 years ago, where they then became trapped inside the freshwater lakes as the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated. ^[5]

Diet

A study found that the Lake trout and Lake whitefish population in the Ungava peninsula were more depressed than the Brook trout population, suggesting that the Ungava seals diet mainly consists of the former two. This could be due to preference, however its more likely because the brook trouts spawning occurs in sheltered locations, making them inaccessible to seals during a vulnerable period. ^[6]

References

1. Harvey, J. (2016). "Phoca vitulina ssp. mellonae". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T17018A66991348.en . e.T17018A66991348. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
2. NatureServe (6 January 2023). "Phoca vitulina mellonae". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
3. "Phoca vitulina mellonae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 2 February 2023.
4. Enns, Amie; Kraus, Dan; Hebb, Andrea (4 June 2020). "Ours to Save: The distribution, status & conservation needs of Canada's endemic species" (PDF). NatureServe Canada and Nature Conservancy of Canada. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
5. "Vous avez dit : « phoques d'eau douce »?". Blogue de conservation de Parcs Québec (in French). Retrieved 2026-03-26.
6. "Ecology of an isolated population, by Richard john smith, 1999. (PDF) (Page 104)". atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca. Retrieved 2026-04-03.