harbor seal

A seal (Phoca vitulina) of coastal waters of the Northern Hemisphere, having a spotted gray coat. Also called common seal.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

har′bor seal`

a spotted earless seal, Phoca vitulina, of the N Hemisphere.

[1760–70]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

harbor seal - small spotted seal of coastal waters of the northern hemisphere

common seal, Phoca vitulina

earless seal, hair seal, true seal - any of several seals lacking external ear flaps and having a stiff hairlike coat with hind limbs reduced to swimming flippers

genus Phoca, Phoca - type genus of the Phocidae: earless seals

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References in periodicals archive

In September 2016, a 26-year-old male harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) in a zoo in northern Germany showed peracute deterioration of its general condition.

Association of Batai Virus Infection and Encephalitis in Harbor Seals, Germany, 2016

Due to dietary generalism, the diets of the Harbor Seal populations in the northern CCLME are likely much more diverse and cross-regional than has been presented in individual papers that have focused on Harbor Seal diets in this region.

Dietary composition of four stocks of pacific harbor seal (phoca vitulina richardii) in the northern california current large marine ecosystem as synthesized from historical data, 1931-2013

In addition, harbor seal pups are born with a relatively thin insulative-blubber layer (Bigg, 1969; Newby, 1973; Pitcher, 1986; Hoover-Miller (4)).

Haul-out patterns and effects of vessel disturbance on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) on glacial ice in Tracy Arm, Alaska

According to Pettit, harbor seal populations are already declining in such locations.

Melting glaciers create underwater cacophony

"The harbor seal hauls up/on the rocks in Sag Harbor/to sun herself in winter.

Neighbors the Water Critters

Niagara Falls--The Aquarium of Niagara has introduced 'Pup 2014,' a harbor seal rescued off the coast of northern California when he was days old, abandoned by his mother and unable to remain alone in the wild, possibly because he was born blind.

Aquarium of Niagara introduces rescued blind Pacific harbor seal pup

In contrast, a study conducted in 1993 in an area 37 km away found harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) in 41% of wolf scats.

Linking wolf diet to changes in marine and terrestrial prey abundance

Marine biologists at the University of Rostock in Germany tested this ability with a 12-year-old harbor seal named Henry.

Sensitive whiskers

Scientists conducted underwater experiments at the Marine Science Center in Germany with a 6-year-old harbor seal named Henry over the course of two months.

Seals use whiskers to track faraway fish

Early one morning, a harbor seal and her pup swim through the cold waters of Alki Beach near Seattle, Washington.

Seal Sitters to the rescue: a group of volunteers band together to keep harbor seals safe

"Our customers are extremely knowledgeable about the food they purchase, and we expect Safe Harbor certified seafood to address concerns some may have about mercury levels in fish and seafood." Seafood sold with the Safe Harbor seal is certified to have a mercury level that is among the lowest available for each species.

Bristol Farms Selling Low-Mercury Seafood Exclusively