Harbor Seal

Common Name: Harbor Seal

Scientific Name: Phoca vitulina

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family: Animalia, Chordata, Mammalia, Carnivora, Pinnipedia, Phocidae

Diet: Schooling fish, squid, octopus, crustaceans

Habitat: Kelp beds, on shore (low rocks), estuaries.

Range: Eastern Pacific from Alaska to Baja California, Western Pacific from Japan to Russia

Identification: Earless seal, short limbs, broad dog-like snout, white whiskers, spotted coarse fur, brown/silver/red/black coloration

Reproduction: Pups born February to June(breeding season), 1-2 pups per season, promiscuous mating

Behavior: Very curious, rest in water vertically, individual male territories, cooperative foraging

Predators: great white sharks, Steller sea lions, orca whales