# Harp Seal (*Pagophilus groenlandicus*) Harp seals are playful animals that love to swim in icy waters. They have soft, spotted fur that helps them blend in with their surroundings. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Cold ocean waters near ice floes. - **Also known as:** Greenland Seal, Saddleback Seal ![Harp Seal](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425941/objects/4511.jpg) ## Appearance The Harp Seal has a streamlined body and a small head. Adults are light grey with a distinctive black, harp-shaped marking on their back. Pups are born with a fluffy, yellowish-white coat that quickly turns pure white. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Phocidae - **Genus:** Pagophilus ## Interesting facts - A harp seal mom can recognize her pup's unique smell and call from hundreds of others! - Harp seal pups are called "whitecoats" because they are born with fluffy, pure white fur! - Harp seals migrate thousands of kilometers each year, traveling from the Arctic to warmer waters! - The scientific name, \*Pagophilus groenlandicus\*, means "ice-lover from Greenland," fitting their chilly home! ## Special abilities - **Blubber Boiler:** Harp Seal has a thick layer of blubber that helps them stay incredibly warm and insulated in freezing Arctic waters. - **Underwater Eyesight:** Harp Seal can see well in dim, murky water because their large eyes are adapted for low-light conditions, perfect for hunting prey. - **Breath-Hold Master:** Harp Seal can hold its breath for up to 20 minutes, allowing them to hunt prey deep beneath the ice without needing to surface. - **Ice Traveler:** Harp Seal can travel thousands of kilometers by swimming under vast ice floes, navigating using sound and memory. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 170-200 cm - **Weight:** 115-180 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-35 years - **Speed:** 27 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 240 days ## Diet & Feeding Harp seals love to eat small fish and shrimp they find swimming in the cold ocean! - **Age differences:** Pups drink mother's milk, then switch to a diet of fish and crustaceans as they mature. - **Primary Foods:** Arctic cod, capelin, northern shrimp, Greenland halibut, amphipods - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Arctic Cod (*Arctogadus glacialis*) — A primary food source in their Arctic habitat. - **Eats:** Capelin (*Mallotus villosus*) — A small schooling fish, important prey for seals. - **Eaten by:** [Polar Bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/polar-bear) (*Ursus maritimus*) — Polar bears are a main predator, especially of pups. ## 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:** 1/5 · Very low Harp seals are wild animals, so it's best to admire them from a distance and never try to touch or feed them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Harp 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 Harp Seal? 170-200 cm ### How much does Harp Seal weigh? 115-180 kg ### How long does Harp Seal live? 20-35 years ### How fast can Harp Seal move? 27 km/h ### What does Harp Seal eat? Harp seals love to eat small fish and shrimp they find swimming in the cold ocean! ### Where is Harp Seal usually found? Cold ocean waters near ice floes. ### How does Harp Seal hunt? Pursuit ## 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: [Harp Seal: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harp-seal)