How quickly do seal pups gain weight while nursing?

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A crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus) lies on snow-covered ice with its mouth open, surrounded by broken sea ice in East Antarctica. — seal Crabeater seal (*Lobodon carcinophagus*).

The rate at which seal pups gain weight varies by species, as nursing periods differ significantly across the family.

For example, the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) has one of the shortest lactation periods of any mammal, lasting only four days. During this brief window, pups consume 10 litres (2.6 gallons) of milk daily, allowing them to gain approximately 7 kg (15 pounds) per day. By the end of this four-day period, they reach a weaning weight of up to 60 kg (130 pounds).1