Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777)
Harp seal
Pagophilus groenlandicus
photo by FAO

Family:  Phocidae ()
Max. size:  190 cm TL (male/unsexed); 180 cm TL (female); max.weight: 135 kg; max.weight: 120 kg
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 0 - 6000 m
Distribution:  Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic: North Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Baffin Island, Magdalen Island, Russia, Canada (Ref. 1394). Pagophilus groenlandicus groenlandicus: Newfoundland, Jan Mayen (Norway), Baffin Bay, Greenland Sea, Nova Scotia, Greenland, Iceland; and vagrants in Virginia, Scotland, Germany, France; Pagophilus groenlandicus oceanicus: Barents Sea, Russia, White Sea (Ref. 1522).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Live chiefly in pack ice, but can be found away from it in summer. Feeds on a variety of crustaceans and open-water fishes during migration, and switch to several varieties of bottom dwelling fishes in summer on the northern grounds (Ref. 1394).
IUCN Red List Status: (LC); Date assessed: 06 June 2015 Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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