vs Hooded seal

Hemiselmis anomala compared with Cystophora cristata

Key Differences

is Not Evaluated while Hooded seal is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Hooded seal
Kingdom	Chromista (Chromista)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Cryptophyta	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Cryptophyceae (Cryptophyceae)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Pyrenomonadales (Pyrenomonadales)	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)
Family	Chroomonadaceae	Phocidae (True Seals)
Genus	Hemiselmis	Cystophora
Species	Hemiselmis anomala	Cystophora cristata

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Hooded seal

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Hooded seal
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

Hooded seal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Portugal. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Hemiselmis anomala is a unicellular cryptomonad alga found in marine and estuarine environments, characterised by its asymmetric, kidney-shaped cell and two unequal flagella for swimming. It contains phycobilin pigments allowing photosynthesis and plays a role in marine and coastal primary production. Cryptomonads like this species are significant contributors to phytoplankton communities in diverse aquatic habitats.