**Ringsel** (*Pusa hispida*) er et sjøpattedyr som tilhører selfamilien (Phocidae) og er et hundelignende rovpattedyr. Seks underarter er beskrevet, hvorav to som utelukkende lever i ferskvann. Artens nærmeste slektninger er bajkalsel (*P. sibirica*) og kaspisel (*P. caspica*).

Beskrivelse
-----------

Ringselen er den minste og mest vanlige selen i Arktis. Pelsen er på oversiden gråbrun eller gråsort med avlange lyse ringer, og ensfarget lys sølvgrå på undersiden. Voksne individer blir cirka 100–175 cm lange (150 cm i snitt) og veier typisk 32–140 kg (50–70 kg i snitt). Vekten varierer gjennom sesongen, typisk fetest på høsten og magrest om våren/tidlig sommer.

Atferd
------

Arten anses å være svært nysgjerrig av seg. Den kan dykke til mer enn 500 m og være under vann i over 45 minutter, men typiske dykk går gjerne til 10–45 m og varer mye kortere. Det er gjerne ungdyrene som dykker dypest. Arten lever i isfylte farvann og foretrekker fastis når den hviler. Den opptrer sjeldent i store flokker, og utenom forplantningstiden er ringselen stadig på vandring etter mat langs driviskanten. Dietten består helst av pelagiske (frittsvømmende) og sympagiske (istilknyttede) fisker og krepsdyr, men den spiser også noen bentiske (bunnlevende) arter.

Ringsel utgjør et meget viktig ledd i den arktiske næringskjeden, både som rovdyr og byttedyr. Den er en arktisk selart med spesielle tilpasninger, som gjør den totalt avhengig av sjøis for reproduksjon og overlevelse. De spesielle tilpasningene gjør den samtidig meget sårbar overfor forandringer av fysiske og biologiske faktorer. Arten er utsatt for predasjon fra isbjørn, spekkhogger, håkjerring og av og til hvalross, dessuten er avkommet utsatt for predasjon fra fjellrev og polarmåke. Arten er spesielt viktig som føde for isbjørnen. 

Ringsel kan bli opptil 45 år gammel, men lever mer typisk til den blir 25–30 år. Hannene blir kjønnsmodne i 5-6-årsalderen, hunnene når de er 4-5 år. Kjønnsmodne hunner får en unge årlig, som fødes som kvitunger i snøhuler (hi) som mødrene graver ut mellom skrugardene på fast fjordis i mars-april. Hannen forsvarer familie og revir, men graver seg egen snøhule. Ungen veier typisk 4-5 kg og dieperioden varer i 1-2 måneder, mens vekten økes til omkring 30 kg. Deretter felles kvitungepelsen.

Utbredelse
----------

Ringsel ved Laptevhavet i Russland  Foto: Кирилл Уютнов 
Ringselen har en sirkumpolar utbredelse i Nordishavet, Beringhavet og Okhotskhavet, fra cirka 35°N og til Nordpolen. Arten er hovedsakelig knyttet til polarisen i Arktis, men den besøker også fjorder i Nord-Norge.

Underarten baltisk ringsel (*P. h. botnica*) er stedegen for Bottenvika og Finskebukta i Østersjøen. Underarten saimensel (*P. h. saimensis*) lever kun i ferskvann og er stedegen for Saimensjøen i Finland. Underarten ladogasel (*P. h. ladogensis*) lever også kun i ferskvann og er stedegen for Ladogasjøen på Karelen i Russland.

Norsk Polarinstitutt antar at totalbestanden av ringsel utgjør cirka 2-3 millioner individer, hvorav cirka 100 000 dyr i svalbardbestanden. De understreker imidlertid at det knytter seg stor usikkerhet til antallene.

### Underarter

Det er beskrevet seks underarter av ringsel, hvorav to som kun lever i store ferskvannsinnsjøer.

**Treliste**
* *Pusa*
	+ *P. hispida*, ringsel
		- *P. h. botnica*, baltisk ringsel, Bottenvika og Finskebukta i Østersjøen
		- *P. h. hispida*, atlantisk ringsel, nominatformen
		- *P. h. krascheninikovi*, beringringsel, Beringhavet
		- *P. h. ladogensis*, ladogasel, Ladogasjøen på Karelen i Russland (ferskvann)
		- *P. h. ochotensis*, okhotskhavsringsel, Okhotskhavet
		- *P. h. saimensis*, saimensel, Saimensjøen i Finland (ferskvann)

Fylogeni
--------

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Phocidae | 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
|  | ringsel (*Pusa hispida*) |
|  |
|  | bajkalsel (*Pusa sibirica*) |
|  |

 |
|  |
|  | kaspisel (*Pusa caspica*) |
|  |

 |
|  |
|  | 

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
|  | flekksel (*Phoca largha*) |
|  |
|  | steinkobbe (*Phoca vitulina*) |
|  |

 |
|  |

 |
|  |
|  | havert (*Halichoerus grypus*) |
|  |

 |
|  |
|  | 

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
|  | harlekinsel (*Histriophoca fasciata*) |
|  |
|  | grønlandssel (*Pagophilus groenlandicus*) |
|  |

 |
|  |

 |
|  |
|  | klappmyss (*Cystophora cristata*) |
|  |

 |
|  |
|  | storkobbe (*Erignathus barbatus*) |
|  |

 |
|  |
|  | 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
|  | weddellsel (*Leptonychotes weddellii*) |
|  |
|  | leopardsel (*Hydrurga leptonyx*) |
|  |

 |
|  |
|  | krabbeetersel (*Lobodon carcinophagus*) |
|  |

 |
|  |
|  | ross-sel (*Ommatophoca rossii*) |
|  |

 |
|  |

 |
|  |
|  | 

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
|  | sydlig sjøelefant (*Mirounga leonina*) |
|  |
|  | nordlig sjøelefant (*Mirounga angustirostris*) |
|  |

 |
|  |

 |
|  |
|  | 

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
|  | middelhavsmunkesel (*Monachus monachus*) |
|  |
|  | hawaiimunkesel (*Monachus schauinslandi*) |
|  |

 |
|  |

 |
|  |

Kladogrammet over viser slektskapet mellom de eksisterende artene i selfamilien.

Referanser
----------

1. 1 2  «Artsdatabankens artsopplysninger». Artsdatabanken. 2. mars 2022. Besøkt 2. mars 2022.
2. ↑  Kovacs, K. Lowry, L. & Härkönen, T. (IUCN SSC Pinniped Specialist Group) 2008. Pusa hispida. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. Besøkt 2015-04-26
3. ↑  Eldegard K, Syvertsen PO, Bjørge A, Kovacs K, Støen O-G og van der Kooij J (24. november 2021). «Pattedyr. Vurdering av ringsel *Pusa hispida* som VU for Norge»Åpent tilgjengelig. *Norsk rødliste for arter 2021*. Artsdatabanken. Besøkt 29. mars 2023.
4. ↑  Kit M. Kovacs & Christian Lydersen. Ringsel (*Pusa hispida*). Norsk Polarinstitutt. Besøkt 2015-04-26
5. ↑  Berta, A.; Churchill, M. (2012). «Pinniped taxonomy: Review of currently recognized species and subspecies, and evidence used for their description». *Mammal Review*. 42 (3): 207–34. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2011.00193.x. CS1-vedlikehold: Flere navn: forfatterliste (link)

Eksterne lenker
---------------

* (en) *ringsel* – oversikt og omtale av artene i WORMS-databasen Rediger på Wikidata

* (en) *ringsel* i Encyclopedia of Life Rediger på Wikidata

* (en) *ringsel* i Global Biodiversity Information Facility Rediger på Wikidata

* (no) *ringsel* hos Artsdatabanken Rediger på Wikidata

* (sv) *ringsel* hos Dyntaxa Rediger på Wikidata

* (en) *ringsel* hos Fossilworks Rediger på Wikidata

* (en) *ringsel* hos ITIS Rediger på Wikidata

* (en) *ringsel* hos NCBI Rediger på Wikidata

* (en) *Kategori:Pusa hispida* – bilder, video eller lyd på Wikimedia Commons Rediger på Wikidata

* (en) *Pusa hispida* – galleri av bilder, video eller lyd på Wikimedia Commons Rediger på Wikidata

* *Pusa hispida* – detaljert informasjon på Wikispecies Rediger på Wikidata

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Oppslagsverk/autoritetsdata | Store norske leksikon **·** Store Danske Encyklopædi **·** NKC
 |