November 22, 2024

Scientists Discover “Special” New Seal Species in the Arctic

The extreme weather condition and vast ranges frequently prevent scientists in their mission to reveal natures mysteries.However, a research study project, led by Greenlandic and Danish scientists, has now been successful in describing a new type of ringed seal that lives in the Icefjord near Ilulissat in West Greenland; an unique natural area on the UNESCO World Heritage List.The results have actually just recently been released in the popular clinical journal Molecular Ecology.The Kangia ringed seal is bigger than the typical Arctic ringed seal and its fur color is various with more distinct patterns. 3,000 of these special Kangia ringed seals,” states Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Senior Researcher at the Pinngortitaleriffik– Greenland Institute of Nature, and one of the researchers behind the study.Fur color and patterns of the Kangia ringed seal (left) and a common Arctic ringed seal (right). The samples were sent for genetic analyses to reveal the seals DNA profile, and the results exposed that the Kangia ringed seals are genetically different from the common Arctic ringed seals.The Kangia ringed seal lives in the Ilulissat Icefjord, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List because of its special and spectacular nature.