Phocidae General ResourcesSeals Common to the Maine Coast ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
A look at the harp, hooded, gray, and harbor seals.
Source: University of New England Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes
Sea Lions
So what is a sea lion and how are they different from seals? Find out here!
Source: San Diego Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Cystophora (hooded seal) Hooded Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
The male hooded seal has an nasal cavity "hood" that is inflated when they are excited, or threatened.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Hooded Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
The hooded seal is also called the bladder-nosed seal.
Source: NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Hooded Seal
Hooded seals gather in large numbers on ice floes to breed.
Source: Sea World Animal Bytes Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No
Hooded Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Hooded seals are found throughout the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean near Labrador and northeastern Newfoundland, south to New England.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Hooded Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Female hooded seals leave their pups when they are four day old.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Erignathus (bearded seal) Bearded Seal
The bearded seal uses its sensitive whiskers to locate prey like fish, crabs, shrimp, clams, and snails.
Source: NHPTV Wildlife Journal Junior Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No
Bearded Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Bearded seals have a gray or brown coat.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Bearded Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Bearded seals will ram their heads through thin ice to produce breathing holes!
Source: NOAA Fisheries Science Center Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Bearded Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Bearded seals are the largest species of arctic seal.
Source: NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Bearded Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Bearded seals get their name from their prominent whiskers.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes
Bearded Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Bearded seals are found in the waters around Alaska, the Arctic Ocean and in areas of the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Halichoerus (gray seal)Gray Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Gray seals have gray to brown to silver fur, often with blotches.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Gray Seal
The gray seal is found in temperate and subarctic waters on both sides of the North Atlantic ocean.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes Gray Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Gray seals can dive over 200 feet underwater.
Source: Los Angeles Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No
Gray Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Male gray seals can grow to almost ten feet long.
Source: National Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Gray Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
The female gray seal's milk contains 10 to 15 times as much fat as in human milk.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes
Histriophoca (ribbon seal) Ribbon Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Ribbon seals move on the ice differently than other Arctic seals, they move one fore flipper at a time at a time, while other seals pull with both their front flippers to move forward!
Source: NOAA Fisheries Science Center Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Ribbon Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Ribbon seals have a dark body and light bands encircling the neck, each front flipper, and hips.
Source: NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Ribbon Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Ribbon seals are rarely seen on land.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes
Ribbon Seal
Ribbon seals are found in coastal areas of the north Pacific Ocean and in the seas bordering Alaska and Russia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Hydrurga (leopard seal) Leopard Seal
Leopard seals are found along the coast of Antarctica.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Leopard Seal
Leopard seals are fierce predators.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes
Leopard Seal
Leopard seals have a huge mouth!
Source: NOAA Fisheries Science Center Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Leopard Seal
Leopard seals can be up to 11.8 feet long.
Source: SeaWorld Animal Bytes Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No
Leopard Seal
Leopard seals get their name from their spotted coat.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Leptonychotes (Weddell seal)Weddell Seal
Weddell seals spend much of their time below the Antarctic ice.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes
Weddell Seal ![Photos](/kn/images/iconcamera.gif)
Weddell seals sometimes will blow air into cracks in the ice to scare out small fishes to eat!
Source: NOAA Fisheries Science Center Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Weddell Seal ![Photos](/kn/images/iconcamera.gif)
Weddell seals can hold their breath for 20 minutes or more.
Source: National Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Weddell Seal
Weddell seals often dive to depths of 984 to 1312 feet.
Source: SeaWorld Animal Bytes Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No
Weddell Seal
Weddell seals have a dark gray coat that is marked with black and lighter gray areas
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Weddell Seal
Weddell seals are found throughout the Antarctic continent.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Weddell Seal
Weddell seals are named for the British Antarctic explorer James Weddell.
Source: Enchanted Learning Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No
Lobodon (crabeater seal) Crabeater Seal
Crabeater seals are the most numerous of the world's seals.
Source: NOAA Fisheries Science Center Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Crabeater Seal
The crabeater seal is primarily found on the coast and pack ice of Antarctica.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Crabeater Seal
A large part of the crabeater seal's diet is made up of krill.
Source: SeaWorld Animal Bytes Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No Mirounga (elephant seals) Elephant Seals ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
There are two species of elephant seals, the northern and the southern elephant seal.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes
Northern Elephant Seal
Male northern elephant seals are larger and heavier than females.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Northern Elephant Seal
Male Northern elephant seal have a big floppy nose.
Source: NOAA Fisheries Science Center Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes Northern Elephant Seal
Northern elephant seals are found in the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of Alaska down to Baja California.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes Northern Elephant Seal
Northern elephant seal males are much larger than females.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes
Northern Elephant Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
northern elephant seals migrate long distances each year.
Source: Enchanted Learning Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No
Southern Elephant Seal
The male southern elephant seal is the biggest seal in its family.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes Southern Elephant Seal
The southern elephant seal is found along the coast of Antarctica and on sub-Antarctic islands.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes Monachus (monk seals) Monk Seals
There are two endangered species of monk seals, and one extinct species.
Source: SeaWorld Animal Bytes Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No
Hawaiian Monk Seal
Hawaiian monk seals are the only true seals to be found year-round in tropical waters.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes Hawaiian Monk Seal
Hawaiians call the seal `Ilio holo I ka uaua, which means, "dog that runs in rough water."
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes
Hawaiian Monk Seal
Hawaiian monk seals are found on small, uninhabited northwestern Hawaiian islands.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Mediterranean Monk Seal
The Mediterranean monk seal is one of the most endangered mammals in the world.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Mediterranean Monk Seal
Mediterranean Monk Seal is found around the Mediterranean Sea region and the Northwest African Coast.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
West Indian Monk Seal
West Indian or Caribbean monk seals were found in the tropical waters of the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, the Greater and Lesser Antilles, and around the Yucatan Peninsula.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes Ommatophoca (Ross seal) Ross Seal
Ross Seals are unique in that they are the only Antarctic seal whose range is restricted to the Antarctic seas.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Ross Seal
Ross seals
have the shortest hair of any seal
Source: SeaWorld Animal Bytes Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No Pagophilus (harp seal) Harp Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Harp seals spend relatively little time on land and prefer to swim in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes
Harp Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Harp seals are found in the Arctic and northern Atlantic Oceans.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Harp Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
For many years, newborn harp seal pups were killed in large numbers for their white coats.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes
Harp Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Harp seals eat crustaceans and fish.
Source: SeaWorld Animal Bytes Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No
Harp Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
The Harp Seal has short, thick white fur with black patches and a black face.
Source: Enchanted Learning Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No
Phoca (harbor seals) Harbor Seal ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
Harbor seals are probably the least vocal of all pinnipeds.
Source: SeaWorld Animal Infobook Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: NoHarbor Seal ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
The harbor seal will "haul-out" of the water and rest on rocks in what is called the banana position where it raises its head and rear flippers in the air.
Source: NHPTV Wildlife Journal Junior Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No
Harbor Seal ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
The harbor seal is found from the subtropics to the Arctic around coasts of the North Atlantic and the North Pacific.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Harbor Seal ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
Harbor seals have gray or brown fur with dark and light spots, and each one looks different from the other.
Source: New England Aquarium Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Harbor Seal ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
You can see harbor seals on the North, East, and West coasts of North America!
Source: NOAA Fisheries Science Center Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Harbor Seal ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
Harbor seals are generally non-migratory.
Source: NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes Harbor Seal ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
Harbor Seals live near coastlines and eat a highly varied seafood diet.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Harbor Seal ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
Harbor seals can dive to depths of 300 feet and stay underwater for 15 to 28 minutes.
Source: Indianapolis
Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Harbor Seal ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
Male Harbor seals are about 5-6 feet long and weigh about 120-130 lbs.
Source: Central Park Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes Harbor Seal ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
Harbor Seals are also known as common seals.
Source: Brookfield Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes Harbor Seal ![NH Species](/kn/images/nhmap.gif)
The harbor seal spends most of its life in the sea, but also enjoys sunbathing on rocks or on the beach.
Source: Enchanted Learning Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No
Spotted Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Spotted seals are the only seal species that breeds in China!
Source: NOAA Fisheries Science Center Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Spotted Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Spotted seals give birth on pack ice and form "family" groups consisting of a female, a male, and a pup during breeding season.
Source: NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Spotted Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Spotted seals are covered with dark spots of irregular shape.
Source: Alaskan Ocean Observing System Data Management Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No
Spotted Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Spotted Seals breed in isolated pairs rather than large groups.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes
Spotted Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Spotted seals are commonly found along the continental shelves of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Pusa (ringed, Baikal, and Caspian seals)
Baikal Seal ![video](/kn/images/iconfilm.gif)
The Baikal seal is the only pinniped that is restricted solely to a freshwater habitat.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes Baikal Seal ![Photos](/kn/images/iconcamera.gif)
The Baikal seals are only found on Lake Baikal in Siberia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Caspian Seal Project
Learn about the Caspian seal and see what is being done to save it.
Source: Caspian Seal Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No
Caspian Seal ![video](/kn/images/iconfilm.gif)
During the spring and summer months, Caspian seals migrate south to live on sand banks or rocky areas.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes
Caspian Seal
Caspian seals are only found in the world’s largest inland body of saltwater, the Caspian Sea.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Ringed Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Ringed seals are rarely found on the open sea, but instead is prefers areas where the ice is firm.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes
Ringed Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Ringed seals are among the smallest of the pinnipeds! They seldom even reach five feet in length!
Source: NOAA Fisheries Science Center Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
Ringed Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Ringed seals have a small head, short cat-like snout, and a plump body. Their coat is dark with silver rings on their back and sides with a silver belly.
Source: NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes Ringed Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
Ringed seals have dark gray or blackish coats with white or pale gray rings splotched across the back and sides.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes
Ringed Seal ![North American Species](/kn/images/northamerica.jpg)
The ringed seal is the most common seal in the Arctic. It is found along Pacific Japanese coasts, the northern parts of the Baltic Sea, Canada, Alaska, and Siberia
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes
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