hooded seal

noun

1. a large seal, Cystophora cristata, the male of which has a large, distensible, hoodlike sac on the head.

hooded seal

noun

1. a large greyish earless seal, Cystophora cristata, of the N Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, having an inflatable hoodlike sac over the nasal region Also calledbladdernose

Word History and Origins

Origin of hooded seal¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Not surprisingly, hooded seal milk is more than 60 percent fat — the fattiest milk among mammals.

From New York Times

Polar bears in east Greenland, for example, have increased their PCB intake by switching from hunting ring seals to hooded seals, which have higher PCB concentrations in their bodies.

From Science Magazine

But most of the bones are marine: scraps of whale bone, jaw and skull fragments of harp seals, a bit of inner ear of a hooded seal.

From Science Magazine

Arctic harp seals and hooded seals come to Maine’s waters in the winter.

From Washington Times

Camels, hooded seals, and gibbons are among animals that inflate to find mates or defend against predators. 

From National Geographic