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How are harp seals different from eared seals such as sea lions and fur seals?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
A mother harp seal and a young “whitecoat.” Adult harp seals are gray with black spots. Young harp seals are called “whitecoats,” “bedlamers,” “beaters,” or “graybacks,” depending on their age.
harp seal A mother harp seal and a young “whitecoat.” Adult harp seals are gray with black spots. Young harp seals are called “whitecoats,” “bedlamers,” “beaters,” or “graybacks,” depending on their age.

Harp seals are classified as "true" or "earless" seals (family Phocidae), which distinguishes them from "eared" seals (family Otariidae) such as sea lions and fur seals. These two groups differ in several key anatomical and behavioral ways:12

  • Ears: Harp seals lack external ear flaps and have only small ear holes. In contrast, eared seals possess visible external ear flaps that protrude from their heads.12
  • Locomotion: Harp seals have short front flippers and cannot rotate their hind flippers forward. Consequently, they move on land by wriggling on their bellies or pulling themselves with their front limbs. Eared seals have longer flippers and can rotate their hind flippers under their bodies, allowing them to walk on land using all four limbs.12
  • Swimming: When swimming, harp seals propel themselves with side-to-side strokes of their hind flippers, similar to a fish tail. Eared seals rely primarily on a rowing motion of their long front flippers for propulsion.12
  • Social Behavior: Eared seals are generally more social and vocal, often communicating through loud barking or bellowing. Harp seals are quieter, typically communicating with soft grunts.1