Table of Contents
What are harp seals used for?
Before the advent of modern technology and hunting methods, the harp seal was hunted and used by native Canadians who lived in a traditional society. The adult seals were killed, their fur, meat, and bones utilized for food, clothing, and shelter by the native peoples.
What are harp seals special features?
They have a narrow snout and eight pairs of teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. Their front flippers have thick, strong claws, while their back flippers have smaller, narrower claws. Adult harp seals have light gray fur with a black mask on their face and a curved black patch on their back.
Are harp seals aggressive?
Pups of this species are very aggressive, and they attempt to defend themselves against intraspecific or interspecific intruders. Harp seal pups have a marked predator response that is very unlike that of grey seal pups.
Why do harp seals have white fur?
Harp seal pups are born with long white fur that helps them absorb sunlight and stay warm while they’re still developing blubber. Pups shed their white fur after about three to four weeks old.
What kind of body does a harp seal have?
Harp seals are part of the true seal family. All true seals have short flippers, which they use to move in a caterpillar-like motion on land. They do not have external ear flaps. Harp seals are about 5 to 6 feet long, weigh about 260 to 300 pounds, and have a robust body with a small, flat head.
How long does it take a harp seal to learn to swim?
The pups do not eat after being weaned until they begin to swim and find food on their own. This can take six weeks. Beater: After about 18 days, the harp seal’s white coat is completely moulted. They start to learn how to swim by beating the water with their front flippers, leading to the name ‘beaters’.
Where does mating take place in a harp seal?
Courtship among harp seals takes place on the ice surface, but mating typically occurs in the water. Both males and females may mate with several partners during the mating season. Like all mammals, harp seals reproduce via internal fertilization and give birth to live young.
Why are harp seals dependent on sea ice?
Harp seals rely on the availability of suitable sea ice as a haul-out platform for giving birth, nursing pups, and molting. As such, harp seals are sensitive to changes in the environment that affect the timing and extent of sea ice formation and breakup.