Classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Superfamily:Pinnipedia
Family:Phocidae
Genus:Pagophilus
Species:P. groenlandicus
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Superfamily:Pinnipedia
Family:Phocidae
Genus:Pagophilus
Species:P. groenlandicus
Common Name
Harp seal
Morphology
Harp seals prefer to swim in the ocean, spending relatively little time on
land.
These are extremely social animals and they can be very noisy, as well.
They will form large colonies where they spend a great deal of time.
Within that loose structure, smaller groups with their own hierarchy are
believed to form.
Sometimes, these large groups will have to go their separate
ways there.
Many harp seals are able to live up to 30 years in the wild. After
12 days the mothers abandon their babies.
On the ice, pups call their mothers by "bawling" and "mumble" while playing
with others. Adults "growl" and "warble" to warn off others.
Underwater, adults
express themselves with more than 19 call types during courting and mating.[
land.
These are extremely social animals and they can be very noisy, as well.
They will form large colonies where they spend a great deal of time.
Within that loose structure, smaller groups with their own hierarchy are
believed to form.
Sometimes, these large groups will have to go their separate
ways there.
Many harp seals are able to live up to 30 years in the wild. After
12 days the mothers abandon their babies.
On the ice, pups call their mothers by "bawling" and "mumble" while playing
with others. Adults "growl" and "warble" to warn off others.
Underwater, adults
express themselves with more than 19 call types during courting and mating.[
Biology
The harp seal is able to move fast on ice, as well as being a powerful swimmer It uses its flippers to
propel itself through the water, while the hind and fore
flippers are also used to fight for access to females, as well as for heat
regulation. The fore flippers are held
close to the body and the hind flippers are held together, reducing the exposed
surface area of the body to retain heat. A thick blubber layer also helps the
harp seal to insulate itself, as well as being used as a source of energy when
prey is not readily available
propel itself through the water, while the hind and fore
flippers are also used to fight for access to females, as well as for heat
regulation. The fore flippers are held
close to the body and the hind flippers are held together, reducing the exposed
surface area of the body to retain heat. A thick blubber layer also helps the
harp seal to insulate itself, as well as being used as a source of energy when
prey is not readily available
Distribution Map
Importance: Ecological and Economical
Harp seals prefer to swim in the ocean, spending relatively little time on land.
These are extremely social animals and they can be very noisy, as well.
They will form large colonies where they spend a great deal of time.
Within that loose structure, smaller groups with their own hierarchy are believed to form.
Sometimes, these large groups will have to go their separate ways there.
Many harp seals are able to live up to 30 years in the wild.
After 12 days the mothers abandon their babies.
On the ice, pups call their mothers by "bawling" and "mumble" while playing with others. Adults "growl" and "warble" to warn off others. Underwater, adults express themselves with more than 19 call types during courting and mating.
These are extremely social animals and they can be very noisy, as well.
They will form large colonies where they spend a great deal of time.
Within that loose structure, smaller groups with their own hierarchy are believed to form.
Sometimes, these large groups will have to go their separate ways there.
Many harp seals are able to live up to 30 years in the wild.
After 12 days the mothers abandon their babies.
On the ice, pups call their mothers by "bawling" and "mumble" while playing with others. Adults "growl" and "warble" to warn off others. Underwater, adults express themselves with more than 19 call types during courting and mating.
Interesting Facts
The fur of the adult harp seal is silvery-grey, and may be mottled with black spots in the female.
The male typically has a black band running down its sides.
The wide face of the adult harp seal is black to just behind its closely-set eyes, and has well-developed, sensitive whiskers.
The female harp seal is slightly smaller than the male and has a somewhat paler, spotted face.
The female harp seal is generally slightly smaller than the male.
The fore and hind flippers of the harp seal bear black claws.
Harp seals pups are known as ‘whitecoats’ due to their thick, white, insulating fur, which becomes whiter in the first two weeks of life.
After two weeks, this fur begins to moult, revealing the silver-grey and black fur beneath.
The vocalisations of the adult harp seal include trills and clicks, as well as bird-like noises and threatening growls by older individuals, all of which are heard more distinctly during the breeding season. Harp seal pups make bawling noises when they are hungry, as well as mumbling sounds while playing with each other.
The male typically has a black band running down its sides.
The wide face of the adult harp seal is black to just behind its closely-set eyes, and has well-developed, sensitive whiskers.
The female harp seal is slightly smaller than the male and has a somewhat paler, spotted face.
The female harp seal is generally slightly smaller than the male.
The fore and hind flippers of the harp seal bear black claws.
Harp seals pups are known as ‘whitecoats’ due to their thick, white, insulating fur, which becomes whiter in the first two weeks of life.
After two weeks, this fur begins to moult, revealing the silver-grey and black fur beneath.
The vocalisations of the adult harp seal include trills and clicks, as well as bird-like noises and threatening growls by older individuals, all of which are heard more distinctly during the breeding season. Harp seal pups make bawling noises when they are hungry, as well as mumbling sounds while playing with each other.
vocabulary
DIATOMS= phylum hetorokophyta,class bacillariophy unicellular and eurokyotic
BLOOMS= A sudden increase in the abundance of an alga or phytoplanton
DINOFLAGELLATES= phylum diinoflagellate unicellular, eukaryoti, mostlyautotrophic
ZOOXANNTHELLAE=dinoflagellates that live within the tissue of reef corals and other marine animals
FORAMINIFERANS= (FORAMS) (PHYLUM GRANULORETICULOSA) PROTOZONS WITH A CALCAREOUS SHELL, OR TETS AND PSEUDOPODIA
BLOOMS= A sudden increase in the abundance of an alga or phytoplanton
DINOFLAGELLATES= phylum diinoflagellate unicellular, eukaryoti, mostlyautotrophic
ZOOXANNTHELLAE=dinoflagellates that live within the tissue of reef corals and other marine animals
FORAMINIFERANS= (FORAMS) (PHYLUM GRANULORETICULOSA) PROTOZONS WITH A CALCAREOUS SHELL, OR TETS AND PSEUDOPODIA