How big does a Ross seal get? Here is an overview over the average adult age:
A grown Ross seal (Ommatophoca rossii) reaches an average size of 2.07 meter (6′ 10″).
When born, they have an average size of 0 cm (0′ 0″). During their lifetime of about 21 years, they grow from 17 kg (37.48 lbs) to 208.63 kg (459.94 lbs). The Ross seal (genus: Ommatophoca) is a member of the family Phocidae.
As a reference: Humans reach an average body size of 1.65m (5′ 5″) while carrying 62 kg (137 lbs). A human woman is pregnant for 280 days (40 weeks) and on average become 75 years old.
The Ross seal (Ommatophoca rossii) is a true seal (family Phocidae) with a range confined entirely to the pack ice of Antarctica. It is the only species of the genus Ommatophoca. First described during the Ross expedition in 1841, it is the smallest, least abundant and least well known of the Antarctic pinnipeds. Its distinctive features include disproportionately large eyes, whence its scientific name (Ommato- meaning “eye”, and phoca meaning “seal”), and complex, trilling and siren-like vocalizations. Ross seals are brachycephalic, as they have a short broad muzzle and have the shortest fur of any other seal.
Animals of the same family as a Ross seal
We found other animals of the Phocidae family:
- Harp seal with a size of 1.73 meter (5′ 9″)
- Hooded seal with a size of 2.33 meter (7′ 8″)
- Caspian seal with a size of 1.41 meter (4′ 8″)
- Leopard seal with a size of 3.05 meter (10′ 0″)
- Crabeater seal with a size of 2.28 meter (7′ 6″)
- Bearded seal with a size of 2.3 meter (7′ 7″)
- Caspian seal with a size of 1.41 meter (4′ 8″)
- Hawaiian monk seal with a size of 2.24 meter (7′ 5″)
- Spotted seal with a size of 1.64 meter (5′ 5″)
- Weddell seal with a size of 2.55 meter (8′ 5″)
Animals with the same size as a Ross seal
Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as Ross seal:
- Common tsessebe with a size of 1.7 meter (5′ 7″)
- Dwarf sperm whale with a size of 2.16 meter (7′ 1″)
- Brown fur seal with a size of 1.91 meter (6′ 3″)
- Short-beaked common dolphin with a size of 2.44 meter (8′ 1″)
- California sea lion with a size of 2.02 meter (6′ 8″)
- Juan Fernández fur seal with a size of 1.7 meter (5′ 7″)
- Malayan tapir with a size of 2.22 meter (7′ 4″)
- Nilgai with a size of 2 meter (6′ 7″)
- Asian elephant with a size of 1.92 meter (6′ 4″)
- Dwarf sperm whale with a size of 2.16 meter (7′ 2″)
Animals with the same life expectancy as a Ross seal
Completely different animals, but becoming as old as a Ross seal:
- South American sea lion with an average maximal age of 24.75 years
- Venezuelan red howler with an average maximal age of 25 years
- Himalayan tahr with an average maximal age of 21.75 years
- Common wallaroo with an average maximal age of 24 years
- Big brown bat with an average maximal age of 20 years
- European rabbit with an average maximal age of 18 years
- Keen’s myotis with an average maximal age of 18.5 years
- Binturong with an average maximal age of 22.67 years
- Roe deer with an average maximal age of 17 years
- Blue wildebeest with an average maximal age of 21.5 years
Animals with the same weight as a Ross seal
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Ommatophoca rossii:
- Dwarf sperm whale with a weight of 183 kilos (403.45 lbs)
- Atlantic white-sided dolphin with a weight of 186.76 kilos (411.73 lbs)
- Pygmy hippopotamus with a weight of 231 kilos (509.27 lbs)
- Waterbuck with a weight of 203.2 kilos (447.98 lbs)
- Equus onager with a weight of 205 kilos (451.95 lbs)
- Brown fur seal with a weight of 178.75 kilos (394.08 lbs)
- Asinus with a weight of 172.5 kilos (380.3 lbs)
- Onager with a weight of 235.62 kilos (519.45 lbs)
- Giant forest hog with a weight of 196.57 kilos (433.36 lbs)
- Anoa with a weight of 180.86 kilos (398.73 lbs)