Knowra Harbor seal Harbor seal The harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) is a widespread pinniped found in coastal waters of the Northern Hemisphere. It has a rounded head, short flippers, and a spotted coat.
Pinniped : A marine mammal in the group comprising seals, sea lions, and walruses. Harbor seals are true seals, a branch of this group adapted to life at sea.
Harbor seal diet : The prey eaten by harbor seals, including fish and invertebrates. Diet varies by location and season, linking local seal populations to coastal prey.
Gray seal : A large true seal, Halichoerus grypus, found in the North Atlantic. Gray seals share coastal habitats with harbor seals but are larger and have longer, straighter snouts.
Marine mammal protection : Legal and practical measures that reduce threats to marine mammals. Harbor seal protections regulate hunting, disturbance, and responses to stranded animals.
Phocidae : The family of true seals, distinguished from eared seals by lacking external ear flaps. This family contains the harbor seal and its closest true-seal relatives.
Harbor seal foraging : The behaviors harbor seals use to locate and capture prey. Foraging dives determine how seals use coastal habitats and interact with fisheries.
Ringed seal : A small Arctic true seal, Pusa hispida, named for pale rings on its coat. Ringed seals are more ice-dependent than harbor seals and occupy colder northern waters.
Marine mammal rehabilitation : Care intended to treat injured or ill marine mammals and return them to the wild. Rehabilitation programs often receive harbor seal pups separated from their mothers.
Harbor seal anatomy : The body structure and physical adaptations of the harbor seal. Its short foreflippers and rear-facing hind flippers shape movement on land and underwater.
Harbor seal haul-out : A period when a seal leaves the water to rest, molt, or reproduce. Haul-out sites are key places to count seals and protect them from disturbance.
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