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Project Noah Nature School
Pagophilius groenlandicus
Harp seals go through three pelage stages: the totally white coat of the newborn, the silvery coat with scattered large dark spots (5 weeks old to maturity) shown in the photograph, and the dark face and dark harp pattern on the back of the mature seal.
They give birth on the ice flows around Labrador, Greenland and the Arctic ocean and their range is recorded as being mostly in that area. But for several years many subadults and fewer adults have made their way as far south as the Jersey shore. They show up in the Gulf of Maine regularly during the winter months.
This youngster was on an ice floe in way up in a tidal estuary. It is a young female. If you look very carefully, just below where her belly button is you can see the two recessed nipples!
Thanks Jason... I suspected there was a hitch on Noah's part. But I find you know a lot about seals?
Hey Gale. I'm not sure what the deal was but she showed up in the NeedsID section so I filled out the fields. You totally got the ID correct. Lovely photograph to boot!
Hi Jason... did I miss something (either in the way Noah works or in my i.d.)? That is what I said too?
Let me add this is a female. If you look very carefully, just below where her belly button is you can see the two recessed nipples!
Spotted on Jan 10, 2010
Submitted on Mar 8, 2011
