Harp seals are found in the Arctic and northern Atlantic Oceans. Their range extends east from around Baffin Island and Hudson Bay to Cape Chelyuskin in northern Russia. Pagophilus groenlandicus is native to Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Svalbard ,Jan Mayen, and the United States. Stray harp seals have been found in Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Of the pinnipeds (walruses, seals, fur seals and sea lions) in the northern hemisphere, harp seals are the most abundant.

There are three main populations of harp seals, each of which has its own migratory route. The northwest Atlantic population, which breeds and molts in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Labrador, and Newfoundland, travels to Hudson Bay, off the coast of Baffin Island, northwestern Greenland and northern Labrador to feed in early summer. The group that breeds in Jan Mayen spends its summers between Svalbard and Greenland. The population which breeds in the White Sea travels north to the Cara and Barents Seas for the summer. In September, all three of the groups begin to travel south again toward their breeding grounds. They will arrive in their respective breeding grounds in January or February. Some of the juvenile and non-breeding harp seals may remain in the northern feeding areas year round.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native ); arctic ocean (Native ); atlantic ocean (Native )

Other Geographic Terms: holarctic

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Occurs in three distinct breeding populations (stocks) in North Atlantic: White Sea (East Ice) stock, Jan Mayen (West Ice) stock, and northwest Atlantic (Newfoundland) stock; breeders in Gulf of St. Lawrence are included in the Newfoundland stock, but possibly they comprise a separate stock. Adults of northwest Atlantic stock summer mainly in High Arctic and around Greenland, winter and breed off Labrador, Newfoundland, and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence; most immatures overwinter at the Front off southern Labrador, though some remain at high latitudes. Occurrences in the northern Gulf of Maine region increased greatly during the 1990s (McAlpine et al. 1999).

Harp seals boast a wide range of pelages through their development. Harp seal pups are born with a white coat of embryonic fur or lanugo, which gives them the name “whitecoats.” Some pups’ fur may be dyed yellow at birth by amniotic fluid, but it fades to white after a few days. About 21 to 22 days later, pups begin to lose their white fur in tufts, creating a “jagged coat.” The lanugo is replaced by a silver-white coat with irregular black spots, which the juvenile seal or “beater” retains for a year. After 12 to 14 months the blacks spots grow larger and the seal is called a “bedlamer.” The seal remains a bedlamer until it reaches sexual maturity. When the seal reaches sexual maturity (around 5.5 years old), the blacks spots converge into a “harp” shaped design, which is composed of two black lines that run up the dorsal side of the seal’s flanks, starting at their pelvis and curving and converging between the shoulders. Also, adult harp seals develop a black head and may have black markings where the hind flippers meet the body of the seal. Some harp seals retain their spotted pelage (“spotted harps”). Of the seals that retain their spots, some have dark gray streaks, creating a completely gray pelage (“sooty harps”). The harp-shaped design on the backs of adults, along with the black head and sliver-white fur, helps Pagophilus groenlandicus stand out from the other members of Phocidae that share its habitat.

Harp seals are sexually dimorphic in size and pelage. Male harp seals weigh an average of 135 kg and are 171 to 190 cm long. Females weigh an average of 120 kg and are 168 to 183 cm long. Besides being larger than females, male harp seals tend to have a more-defined “harp” pattern and black head than females.

Adult harp seals have fairly small hind flippers and the fore flippers are pointed with short digit tips that boast large claws. Their heads are flat and wide and they tend to have a fairly long, but tapered snout.

The dental formula of Pagophilus groenlandicus is 3/2 incisors, 1/1 canines, and 5/5 post-canines.

Range mass: 120 to 135 kg.

Average mass: 130 kg.

Range length: 1.5 to 2.0 m.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry ; polymorphic

Sexual Dimorphism: male larger; male more colorful

Length: 200 cm

Weight: 181000 grams

• Terrestrial
• Marine

Harp seals spend the majority of their time in coastal ocean waters near pack ice. Harp seals forage for food at depths of 150 to 200 m. When harp seals are on land, they prefer rough ice that is at least 0.25 meters thick. Harp seals brave open ocean waters when they migrate.

Range depth: 150 to 200 m.

Habitat Regions: polar ; saltwater or marine

Terrestrial Biomes: icecap

Aquatic Biomes: coastal

Habitat Type: Marine

Comments: Edge of the arctic pack ice and subarctic waters. Rests on sea ice. Pups are born on ice.

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Migrates up to thousands of kilometers between northern summer range and southern (winter/spring) breeding range. Early migrants reach Labrador and northern Newfound by December; migrate northward in spring and early summer.

Harp seals are primarily piscivores that eat up to 67 species of fish and 70 species of marine invertebrates. Fish and invertebrates consumed by harp seals varies with their location and the season. Some of the main fish that make up their diet are capelin, Arctic cod, and polar cod. Pups tend to mainly feed on small invertebrates.

Harp seals may dive to extreme depths to capture food. The average diving depth for harp seals is 150 to 200 m and the dives typically last 4 to 13 minutes.

Animal Foods: fish; aquatic crustaceans

Primary Diet: carnivore (Piscivore , Eats non-insect arthropods)

Comments: Adults eat mainly small pelagic marine fishes, also pelagic and benthic crustaceans and some bottom fishes. In summer at high latitudes, arctic cod and polar cod are important prey. Weaned young first feed in surface waters on small pelagic crustaceans and small fishes (e.g., capelin). May feed at depths of up to 150-200 m (Ronald and Healey 1981).

Harp seals are piscivores and consume large amounts of fish and crustaceans in their environment. Harp seals are also food for many predators in the Arctic region.

Harp seals are carriers of the Phocine distemper virus (PDV). PDV does not have any affect on harp seals, but they may have passed the virus onto harbor seals, ignighting a huge epidemic in Europe in 1988.

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

• Phocine distemper virus

The main predators of harp seals are polar bears, killer whales, Greenland sharks, and walruses. Humans also kill harp seals for food, fur, and oil.

Though harp seals tend not to be very vocal on land, females may make a shrill call if a predator comes near her pup.

Known Predators:

• killer whales (Orcinus orca)
• polar bears (Ursus maritimus)
• walruses (Odobenus rosmarus)
• Greenland sharks (Somniosus pacificus)

10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Comments: East Ice stock: 800,000 in the mid-1980s. West Ice stock: 300,000, with 60,000 pups born annually in the late 1980s. Newfoundland stock: close to 2 million or more, with more than 500,000 pups born annually in the mid-1980s (Reeves et al. 1992).

Minimum mortality rate 1.1-1.4% during first 2-3 weeks of life in Gulf of St. Lawrence (Kovacs et al. 1985). Gregarious when molting (mostly in April).

The main form of long and short distance communication for Pagophilus groenlandicus is underwater calling. Research suggests that harp seals actually listen to individual calls and respond with a specific response, rather than making random sounds. By actually listening to calls, seals can avoid masking other seals' calls. Harp seals may use underwater calling to attract mates and to coordinate herds.

Besides underwater calling, harp seals may use clicks, trills, and other chirp-like sounds on land, especially to attract mates or to respond to a predator getting too close to a pup. Terrestrial communication is quite uncommon.

Harp seals have acute vision and hearing, which is incredibly strong underwater, but a very poor sense of smell.

Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic

Perception Channels: visual ; acoustic

Comments: Intermittently active both day and night.

Harp seals live 20 to 35 years in the wild. There is very little information on the lifespans of harp seals in captivity.

Range lifespan

Status: wild: 20 to 35 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 30 years.

Typical lifespan

Status: wild: 20 to 35 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 30 years.

Harp seals gather together at their breeding grounds in the winter. At the breeding grounds, there may be up to 2,000 seals per square kilometer. The mating system of harp seals is much disputed and they been described as monogamous, polygynous, and polyandrous. To attract females, some male seals blow bubbles and make noises beneath the ice near where females have made entry holes into the water. Males also may chase females or making pawing gestures towards them. To compete for females, male harp seals may splash and bite other males. Research has suggested that female harp seals may also choose their mates based upon the size of their baculum.

Mating System: monogamous ; polygynous ; polygynandrous (promiscuous)

Both male and female harp seals reach sexual maturity at around 5.5 years old, though they both don’t tend to copulate regularly until a few years later. The average reproducing age for females is 10 years old. Males don't successfully compete for breeding opportunities until they are 8 years old. Harp seals remain sexually active for the rest of their lives.

Harp seals breed 10 to 12 days following the birth of their pups. Females enter estrus and breed near the end of lactation. The gestation period is divided into four months of delayed implantation and 7.5 months of active gestation. Birthing of harp seal pups occurs from late February to April. Females give birth on the ice near open water. Harp seals birth one pup at a time, they are nursed and cared for by their mother for 10 to 12 days. The mother’s milk is 48% fat and the pups gain an average of 33 kg while they nurse. Once the pup is weaned it is abandoned by its mother and remains alone on the ice as it waits for its silver-gray pelage to grow in so it can go into the water. While the pup waits, it loses up to 50% of its body fat. Pup mortality is 20 to 30%.

Breeding interval: Harp seals breed once yearly

Breeding season: Harp seals breed from February to April.

Average number of offspring: 1.

Average gestation period: 11.5 months.

Range birth mass: 10 to 11 kg.

Range weaning age: 10 to 12 days.

Range time to independence: 10 to 12 days.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 4 to 6 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 5.5 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 5.5 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous ; delayed implantation ; post-partum estrous

Average gestation period: 228 days.

Average number of offspring: 1.25.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

Sex: male: 1826 days.

Female harp seals are the sole providers of care to their pup. Mothers nurse their pups for 10 to 12 days. While the pup is still nursing, the mother is very active and leaves the pup alone for extended periods of time. Pups remain near the area where the mother enters the water. Once the pup is weaned, it is left alone on the ice while it sheds its white coat and develops a silver-gray pelage. After about four weeks the pup will become fully independent and forage for its own food.

Parental Investment: precocial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)

Mating and parturition begin in late February in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and in early March at the Front off Labrador. Gestation lasts about 1 year, including 2.5-month delayed implantation period. Lactation lasts an average of 12 days. Young enter water when ice breaks up. One pup per year. Sexually mature as early as 3 years and no later than 7-8 years; matures earlier in deleted populations than in dense populations. Vast majority of adult females breed annually. Pupping areas cover 20 to 200 sq km, with seal densities of up to 2000/sq km (Reeves et al. 1992).

Due to limitations on slaughter and the involvement of conservation groups, harp seals not a threatened species and their numbers have actually begun to increase over the last few years. They are listed as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Comments: Periodically, 10,000s have died annually after being entangled in fishing gear. See Beck et al. (1994, Can. J. Zool. 72:174-182) for information on organochlorine residues in seals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Hudson Strait. In the northwestern Atlantic, total removals (harvest plus individuals killed but not landed) increased from about 179,000-209,000 in 1994 to 417,000-533,000 in 1998 (Lavigne 1999).

Harp seals have been blamed for the decline of certain fish populations, which has an affect on the fishing industry. To try to control the decline of certain fish populations, the fishing industry continues to fight to increase the amount of seals allowed to be slaughtered each year.

Harp seals provide meat for some native Arctic peoples. Historically, harp seal fur, oil, and meat were incredibly important to humans. Currently, demand for harp seal products has dropped off considerably due to import regulations.

Harp seals have also become an important part of the tourist industry in Canada, where tourists can visit harp seal whelping sites.

Positive Impacts: body parts are source of valuable material; ecotourism

Comments: Long exploited for subsistence use, and long subjected to an extensive commercial harvest (100,000+ annually in recent years). There is some controversy regarding the impact of this species on commercial fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic.

Comments: Placed in the genus Pagophilus by Muizon (1982), Rice (1998), Baker et al. (2003), and some other authors, but regarded (with the nominal genera Histriophoca and Pusa) as a member of the genus Phoca in other recent literature (e.g., King 1983; Riedman 1990; Nowak 1991; Reeves et al. 1992; Wozencraft, in Wilson and Reeder 1993).

A cladistic analysis of mtDNA data yielded three clades among northern seals: Phoca-Pusa-Halichoerus, Cystophora-Pagophilus, and Erignathus (Perry et al. 1995). Each clade may be regarded as a tribe of the subfamily Phocinae. The magnitude of the differences among Phoca, Pusa, and Halichoerus was on the same order as that between species and subspecies within the genus Odocoileus. Because Cystophora is the closest relative of Pagophilus, the latter cannot be regarded as congeneric with Phoca; the differences between the two are great enough to justify placing them in separate genera (Perry et al. 1995). However, Mouchaty et al. (1995) examined the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and found a close relationship between P. groenlandicus and Histriophoca fasciata, which, they noted, merits further study.