The harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), also known as Saddleback Seal or Greenland Seal, is a species of earless seal, or true seal, native to the northernmost Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean. Originally in the genus Phoca with a number of other species, it was reclassified into the monotypic genus Pagophilus in 1844.

Harp Seal milk contains up to 50% fat, so pups gain over 2 kilograms per day when nursing, which lasts roughly 12 days. During this time the mother does not eat, and will lose up to 3 kilograms per day of body weight. Weaning is very abrupt. …

Harp seal milk is half fat—10 times more fat than cow’s milk—to help pups bulk up to survive the harsh winters. Did You Know? Harp seals are incredibly good swimmers. They typically hunt for fish at depths around 300 feet, but can dive to depths of more than 1,000 feet!

Discover everything about the harp seal, the Arctic marine mammal known for its white coat as a pup and playful nature. Learn about its habitat, diet, behavior, and conservation efforts. Skip to content

Harp seal pups are born without a warm protective fat layer. The long, wooly white fur they are born with helps them stay warm by trapping heat from the sunlight. To help them stay warm, adult harp seals shed, or molt, their fur and lose the top layers of their skin to grow a …

Harp seals are sometimes called saddleback seals because of the dark, saddlelike marking on the back and sides of their light yellow or gray bodies of the adults. Baby seals are born on pack...

Harp seals get their name from a dark patch on their back that looks like a harp. But you might be more familiar with their adorable offspring. With their fluffy white hair and round black eyes, harp seal pups may be the cutest baby animals on the planet!

Apr 20, 2022 · Harp seals gather in large groups of up to several thousand to molt and breed. Although they live in cold water, harp seal pups are born without any protective fat. Newborns quickly develop a thick layer of blubber while nursing. Harp seals, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NOAA Fisheries is ...

Seal pups weigh around 11 kg at birth however during nursing when they are fed exclusively on their mother’s high fat milk, they quickly grow, gaining over 2 kg per day. Both male and female harp seals return to their breeding grounds each year. Males compete with each other for access to …

Harp Seals are a species of resident in the water. These seals only go to land when they mate. Because they live in the coldest terrestrial areas, they would not have survived there without the thick layer of subcutaneous fat they possess.