harbour seal

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harbour seal

mammal

Also known as: Phoca vitulina, common seal, hair seal, spotted seal

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Also called:: common seal, hair seal, or spotted seal

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A glimpse into the lives of common seals — A glimpse into the lives of common sealsLearn about harbour seals.
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harbour seal, (Phoca vitulina), nonmigratory, earless seal (family Phocidae) found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The harbour seal is whitish or grayish at birth and as an adult is generally gray with black spots. The adult male may attain a length and weight of about 1.8 m (6 feet) and 130 kg (290 pounds); the female is somewhat smaller. Found along coastlines and in a few freshwater lakes in Canada and Alaska, the harbour seal is a gregarious animal that feeds on fish, squid, and crustaceans. It is of little economic value and in some areas is considered a nuisance by fishermen.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.