The Harbor (or Harbour) Seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as the Common Seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern hemisphere. They are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as those of the Baltic and North Seas, making them the most widely distributed of the pinnipeds (walruses, eared seals, and true seals).Common seals are brown, tan, or gray, with distinctive V-shaped nostrils. Common seals stick to familiar resting spots or haulout sites, generally rocky areas (although ice, sand and mud may also be used) where they are protected from adverse weather conditions and predation, near a foraging area. Males may fight over mates underwater and on land. Females are believed to mate with the strongest males and generally bear a single pup.
Ten Facts about Harbor Seal
- An adult can attain a length of 1.85 meters (6.1 ft) and a mass of 132 kilograms (290 lb).
- There tails, not easily seen, harbor seals have a short, flat tail located between the hind flippers.
- Harbor seals, like all true seals, lack an external ear flap, but do have an external pinnae, or opening to the ear canal that provides them with a keen sense of hearing, responding to underwater sounds from up to 180 kHz. In the air, hearing is reduced with a response range up to 22.5 kHz.
- Harbor seals' eyes are prominent and adapted for shades of black and white. Color vision is not necessary and therefore is probably poor to non-existent. Compared to humans, they have superior vision underwater is better, yet inferior on land.
- Harbor seals are thought to be the least vocal of all pinnipeds, vocalizing only for defense.
- A harbor seals are often observed during the pre-mating and mating seasons slapping the water with their pectoral flippers as a form of communication. They may also perform this behavior to show aggression.
- They can swim up to 19 kph.
- Harbor seals can dive to depths of 90 m and stay submerged for 15 to 28 minutes.
- The timing of birth varies with latitude. Generally, it occurs between February and June.
- Gestation is one year with a period of delayed implantation. There is actually only 9-10 months of fetal development.
