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.

Apr 20, 2022 · Adult harp seals have light gray fur with a black mask on their face and a curved black patch on their back. This black patch looks like a harp and is the source of the species’ common name. Some animals have dark spots randomly scattered over their entire body.

The face of an adult harp seal is completely black, while the gray coloration of its body is accented by a black harp-shaped marking on its back. Adults typically hold this coloration between five years of age and the end of their lives.

Harp seals owe their name to the irregular horseshoe-shaped band of black straddling the back in the adult male. This band, or ‘harp’, unites across the shoulders, curves down toward the abdominal region and the back up toward the posterior flippers where it abruptly disappears.

Adult harp seals weigh about 135 kg (300 lb.) and measure between 1.6-1.8 m (5.25-6.25 ft.). They have light gray fur with a dark mask on their face. Though named for the harp-shaped patch on their backs, some female harp seals never develop …

Adult Stage: Adult harp seals have a silver-gray body with a black, harp-shaped marking on their back, giving them their name. Males usually have more defined harp-shaped markings than females. Size and Weight. Harp seals are medium-sized seals. Length: Adult harp seals measure between 5.7 to 6.7 feet (1.7 to 2 meters) long.

Adult harp seals have black splotches in their fur but baby harp seals are known for their bright white coat. Baby harp seal’s fluffy, white fur helps camouflage them from predators. As they get older, they shed the white coat for a gray one that is better suited to life in the water.

It’s not until adulthood that harp seals get the distinguishable black patch on their backs that look like a harp (or wishbone) for which they are named. Harp seals have a slender snout on their small, flat heads and with their short flippers they move like a caterpillar on land.

Adult – Male harp seals reach maturity at about seven years of age, females about five. How long do harp seals live? Harp Seals live about 25-35 years in the wild.

The Harp Seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) is a medium-sized pinniped species, with adult males typically measuring around 1.7 to 2.0 meters in length and weighing between 130 to 190 kilograms, while adult females are slightly smaller, ranging from 1.5 to 1.8 meters in length and weighing between 90 to 140 kilograms.