Harp Seals

The harp seal, also known as the saddleback seal, is a species of seal that can be found in the northernmost part of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in parts of the Arctic Ocean. Its scientific name, Pagophilus groenlandicus, means “ice-lover from Greenland."

While not the largest seal, the harp seal's size is impressive. It typically measures five and a quarter to six and a quarter feet in length and weighs about 400 pounds. The harp seal is gray in color, and has black markings on its back that can look like a harp or a saddle, hence both of its nonscientific names.

The harp seal is a carnivore, and subsists on fish and crustaceans. For this reason, the harp seal is an excellent diver and swimmer, and can remain submerged in the water for fifteen minutes. The harp seal spends most of its life in the ocean.

Though it lives predominantly in the ocean, the harp seal comes to land to give birth and to court other seals. Female harp seals typically each produce one pup every year after reaching sexual maturity at the age of five or six, usually giving live birth to each pup in late February. Birth is followed by a nursing period of twelve, during which the mother feeds only her pup. After this period, pups are left to fend for themselves.

At birth, the harp seal has a yellowy-white coat, which serves to protect the pup by acting as camouflage in the snow. During the nursing period, its adult coat grows in underneath its white coat. Young harp seals molt several times, often for years, to come into their adult coats. Some females do not entirely rid themselves of their white coats.

The harp seal's average life span in the wild is 20 years. However, about 30% of harp seals do not survive past infancy. This fact relates to their vulnerability upon being stranded by their mothers. Infant harp seals are particularly vulnerable to predators because they do not know how to swim by instinct, and tend to learn to do so slowly.

The harp seal is a migratory species, with the western population routinely traveling up to 2,500 miles outside breeding season. One individual was once noted to have traveled 2,880 miles from its tagging location. Each year, both male and female harp seals return to the Greenland Sea, the White Sea, or Newfoundland to breed.

The harp seal is a very social creature, often forming large groups called colonies or rookeries. It is believed that subgroups with their own social hierarchies form within these larger groups. Harp seals use a variety of noises to communicate, and can be very vocal.

About the Author
Jacob Maddox manages content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com an educational wildlife and animal website.