Page 15 - World of Animals - Issue #41

Harbour seal Seal extremes

The most widely distributed
HARBOUR SEAL pinniped travels far and wide for
Phoca vitulina food, then swallows it whole
Class Mammalia
Harbour seals vary in appearance
from dark grey to sandy brown,
but they can be picked out by their
Territory Coastal waters of the characteristic posture on land, with
Northern Hemisphere both their head and tail in the air. Their
Diet Fish, crustaceans and
cephalopods territory includes coastlines of both the

Lifespan 30-35 years north Atlantic and north Pacific Oceans, Largest: Southern elephant seal
Adult weight 70-150kg where the seals will travel up to 50 Named a er their trunk-like

(150-330lb)

Conservation status kilometres (30 miles) away from the coast inflatable snouts, males can weigh
in search of a meal, often staying out at sea 3,700 kilograms (8,160 pounds) and
for days. Once they have caught prey, such reach lengths of six metres (20 feet).
Dominant males will collect ‘harems’

LEAST CONCERN as fish or squid, they will swallow it in a single of 40 to 50 females and fight off any

gulp or tear it into chunks, not bothering to chew. rivals in noisy, violent battles.
Harp seal
These strong swimmers make epic annual migrations to breed
Harp seal pups are born with a that gradually increase in size Harp seals spend most of their
fluffy yellow coat, which is soon until they form the harp-shaped time at sea, hunting for fish and

bleached to a pristine white. This pattern they are named after. crustaceans. They are powerful

is moulted 18 days later, when Once they have left the ice swimmers, using their flippers to Smallest: Ringed seal

the young seals are known as they were born on, harp seals will propel themselves forward. Their Ringed seals are named a er the grey
spots encircled by silver rings on their
‘beaters’, due to the way they migrate north to Arctic feeding eyes are constantly lubricated backs. However, these markings can
wave their flippers up and down grounds. For some, this can be due to the absence of tear ducts, be so dense that they merge into a

while learning how to swim. They a journey of 4,000 kilometres and they are able to spend long mottled pattern. They reach lengths of

will continue to moult once a (2,500 miles), but they will make a periods submerged by lowering up to 1.6 metres (five feet) and weigh
around 70 kilograms (150 pounds).
year, developing black patches return trip each winter to breed. their heart rate by 90 per cent.

Most common: Crabeater seal
Around 15 million crabeater seals
inhabit the Antarctic region, from the
coasts of Antarctica to as far north
as Australia, South Africa and South
America. This makes them by far the
most common pinniped in the world,
and possibly the most numerous
large mammal too.

Fastest: Leopard seal
Just like their feline namesakes,
leopard seals are ruthless predators.
They reach speeds of 37 kilometres
(23 miles) per hour, easily quick
enough to take a penguin by surprise.
They can also use their lightning © NaturePL; FLPA; Alamy
speed to launch themselves into the
air, grabbing unsuspecting seabirds
in their jaws.

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