Harp Seal: Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777)
Harp Seal: A migratory ice seal of the Atlantic-Arctic
Size
- Males up to 1.9m (6.2 feet), 140kg (310 pounds)
- Females up to 1.8m (6 feet), 130 kg (290 pounds)
Color & Characteristics
- Light gray,
- Black face and black saddle behind shoulders
Habitat
- North Atlantic and Atlantic-Arctic shelves
- Associated with pack ice
Feeding
- Arctic and polar cod along ice edge
- Capelin, herring and krill
Life cycle
- Size at birth 0.85m (3 ft), 11kg (25 lbs)
- Sexual maturity at 5 years
- Females have pups every year
- Longevity 30 years
Behavior
- Very Vocal
- Large breeding and molting aggregations
- Seasonal migrationsl
Page Author: Lowry & Bodil Bluhm
Created: Aug 24, 2008
