[ANIMAL OF THE WEEK] Harp seal

- August 30th, 2023 -

This week's animal of the week is the harp seal, also known as the saddleback or Greenland seal! They are a species of true/earless seal and are native to the northernmost Atlantic and Arctic oceans. Harp seals are carnivorous and their diets consist of fish and invertebrates. Pups have a yellowish white coat* when they're born and grow out of them into grey bodies with dark, saddlelike markings on their backs and sides. Adolescents have spotted silver-grey coats. They have an average life span of 20 years in the wild. Adults are 1.7 meters - 2.0 meters in length and weigh 115 - 140 kilograms.

* The yellow comes from amniotic fluid stains, but their coats turn completely white after 3 days. They stay white for 2 - 3 weeks until their first molt.