Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
A spotted seal of northern Atlantic and Pacific coasts that slows its heartbeat to just a few beats a minute when it dives.
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About the Harbor Seal
Harbor seals live along the coasts of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, and they have the widest range of any seal. Males weigh 120 to 300 pounds and are 5 to 6 feet long; females are a bit smaller. Their fur can be light with dark spots or dark with light spots. They eat fish like herring, cod and salmon, plus squid, octopus, crabs and shrimp, often swallowing food whole.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Phoca vitulina[2]
- Size
- Males 5 to 6 feet; females 4 to 5 feet.[1]
- Weight
- Males 120 to 300 pounds; females 100 to 190 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- 25 to 30 years in the wild.[1]
- Diet
- Fish, squid, clams, octopus, crayfish, crabs and shrimp.[1]
- Habitat
- Cool temperate to cold Arctic coastal waters.[1]
- Where it lives
- North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- pinniped
- A fin-footed sea mammal, such as a seal, sea lion or walrus.
- blubber
- A thick layer of fat that keeps sea mammals warm.
- opportunistic feeder
- An animal that eats whatever food it can find.
- temperate
- Having a mild climate, not too hot or too cold.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmaha, Nebraska · Owen Sea Lion ShoresSee this area on the zoo's website ↗
Sources
- [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Harbor seal.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/harbor-seal (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Phoca vitulina (Harbour Seal).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/17013/45229114 (accessed 2026-10-02)
Facts last checked 2026-10-02.