Seal

Phoca vitulina

Seals are playful marine mammals that love swimming and sunbathing on rocks. They have sleek bodies, flippers for swimming, and can hold their breath for a long time underwater.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Harbor Seal has a torpedo-shaped body, typically grey to brown with dark spots, helping it blend with rocks. It possesses a relatively small head with a dog-like snout and short, stubby front flippers, distinct from the longer flippers of sea lions.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderCarnivoraFamilyPhocidaeGenusPhoca

Seal

Interesting facts

A group of seals resting on land is called a "rookery," but in water, they are a "raft."

Baby seals are born fully developed and can swim almost immediately after birth!

Harbor seals often sleep underwater, surfacing every few minutes to breathe without fully waking up.

They can close their nostrils and ears when diving to prevent water from entering their head.

Special abilities

Seal has a sleek, streamlined body and powerful hind flippers that propel it gracefully through the water at high speeds.

Seal can hold its breath for up to 30 minutes by slowing its heart rate, allowing it to dive deep for food.

Seal can detect prey by sensing subtle water vibrations using its sensitive whiskers, even in murky waters.

Seal has a thick layer of blubber that helps insulate its body and keep it warm in cold ocean waters.

Measurements & details

Length: 120-195 cm
Weight: 55-150 kg
Lifespan: 25-30 years
Top Speed: 35 km/h
Litter Size: 1
Gestation: 300-330 days

Diet & Feeding

These adaptable hunters enjoy a varied seafood diet, preying primarily on fish, but also crustaceans and cephalopods.

Primary Foods

cod
herring
flounder
salmon
shrimp
squid

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

eaten by

Orca

Orcinus orca

Orcas are top predators that hunt seals in coastal waters.

eaten by

Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Young seals can be vulnerable prey for large sharks.

hunts

Atlantic Cod

Gadus morhua

Seals commonly hunt various fish species like cod for food.

hunts

Atlantic Herring

Clupea harengus

Herring are a primary food source for many seal populations.

Traits

Furry

Find adorable animals covered in a cozy coat of soft fur! Their fur helps them stay warm and protected in different environments.

Webbed Feet

These animals have special feet with skin between their toes, which helps them swim super fast!

Whiskered

Look for animals with cool whiskers, which help them feel their way around and understand their world!

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Thermoregulating

Learn about incredible animals that can keep their body temperature just right, no matter how hot or cold it gets outside! They have special ways to stay warm or cool.

Coastal

Discover life found along the edges where land meets the sea! These habitats are always changing with the tides and waves, offering unique environments.

Marine

Dive into the vast, salty waters of the ocean, teeming with an incredible diversity of life, from tiny plankton to giant whales! It's a watery wonderland.