A small seal, Histriophoca (or Phoca) fasciata (family Phocidae), which is dark brown with several prominent whitish bands and occurs locally in subarctic areas of the North Pacific.
Origin
Early 19th century; earliest use found in George Shaw (1751–1813), natural historian.
Definition of ribbon seal in US English:
ribbon seal
noun
A small seal, Histriophoca (or Phoca) fasciata (family Phocidae), which is dark brown with several prominent whitish bands and occurs locally in subarctic areas of the North Pacific.
Origin
Early 19th century; earliest use found in George Shaw (1751–1813), natural historian.