# Harbor Seal (*Phoca vitulina*) Harbor seals are playful marine mammals with spotted coats. They rest on beaches and rocks. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Coastal waters and beaches. - **Also known as:** Seward Seal ![Harbor Seal](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426220/objects/4388.jpg) ## Appearance The Harbor Seal has a round head and a sleek, torpedo-shaped body. Its short, stiff fur is typically grey, brown, or tan, covered in dark, irregular spots unique to each individual. They have small, paddle-like fore-flippers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Phocidae - **Genus:** Phoca ## Interesting facts - Each seal has unique spot patterns, like fingerprints, allowing individual identification. - Harbor seals are relatively solitary, preferring smaller groups than other seals. - Harbor seals often sleep floating vertically, a position called 'bottling'. - They 'haul out' on land or ice to rest and give birth. ## Special abilities - **Deep Dive Master:** Harbor Seals can slow their heart rate and collapse their lungs to hold breath for over 25 minutes while diving for food. - **Whisker Radar:** Harbor Seals have highly sensitive whiskers that help them detect fish movements and locate prey even in murky water. - **Blubber Warmth:** Harbor Seals have a thick layer of blubber that helps them stay warm in frigid ocean waters and conserve energy. - **Underwater Hearing:** Harbor Seals have excellent underwater hearing, helping them detect prey and avoid predators in the ocean. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 120-190 cm - **Weight:** 55-150 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-30 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 300-360 days ## Diet & Feeding Harbor seals munch on various fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods found in coastal waters. - **Primary Foods:** Atlantic Herring, Pacific Cod, Mackerel, Squid, Octopus, Shrimp - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Orca](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orca) (*Orcinus orca*) — Orcas are powerful predators that hunt seals. - **Eaten by:** [Great White Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-white-shark) (*Carcharodon carcharias*) — Large sharks prey on seals, especially younger ones. - **Hunts:** [Atlantic Herring](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-herring) (*Clupea harengus*) — Harbor seals actively hunt and eat schooling fish. - **Hunts:** [Pacific Cod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pacific-cod) (*Gadus macrocephalus*) — Cod are a common food source for harbor seals. - **Depends on:** Giant Kelp (*Macrocystis pyrifera*) — Kelp forests provide shelter for fish that seals eat. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Stay back — seals can bite if approached. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Harbor Seal? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Harbor Seal? 120-190 cm ### How much does Harbor Seal weigh? 55-150 kg ### How long does Harbor Seal live? 20-30 years ### How fast can Harbor Seal move? 20 km/h ### What does Harbor Seal eat? Harbor seals munch on various fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods found in coastal waters. ### Where is Harbor Seal usually found? Coastal waters and beaches. ### How does Harbor Seal hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Atchison Village](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atchison-village) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Fort Revere Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-revere-park) — US · State Park - [Henry Vilas Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/henry-vilas-zoo) — Wisconsin, US · Zoo - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaworld-san-diego) — California, US · Aquarium - [New England Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/new-england-aquarium) — Massachusetts, US · Aquarium - [Oregon Coast Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-coast-aquarium) — Oregon, US · Aquarium [View all places to see Harbor Seal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/harbor-seal) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Harbor Seal: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harbor-seal)