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124 Featured Specimen
Harbor seal

Details

Harbor seal

Phoca vitulina

Size
1.4–1.9 m · 55–170 kg
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Cathemeral
Sociality
Loose group
Lifespan
10-20 years

The harbor seal is a pinniped of northern coasts and seas. Its activity follows tides and prey, and it gathers in loose groups at haul-outs.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
PalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearctic

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It uses rocky shores, sandbars, estuaries, and coastal waters. Animals move between land resting sites and nearby feeding areas at sea.

Appearance

Body length is about 140-190 cm and weight about 55-170 kg. A rounded head, large eyes, spotted body, and streamlined shape suit underwater swimming.

Behavior

Activity can occur day or night and often follows tidal rhythms. At haul-outs, individuals gather while keeping personal spacing.

Feeding

It is carnivorous, taking fish, squid, and crustaceans. Underwater, it uses vision and sensitive whiskers to locate prey.

Reproduction

Pups are born on shore or sandbars and can swim early in life. Mothers alternate nursing with feeding trips.

Notes

Its status is listed as Least Concern. Coastal haul-outs are sensitive to close human approach and noise, so distance matters.