{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "harbor-seal",
  "name": "Harbor Seal",
  "scientificName": "Phoca vitulina",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The harbor seal is a true (earless) seal found along cool coasts across the Northern Hemisphere. It has a plump, spotted coat, no visible ear flaps, and large dark eyes. Harbor seals reach about 1.8 m (6 ft), live 25 to 30 years, and haul out on rocks and beaches to rest.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Phocidae",
    "genus": "Phoca"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 100,
    "lengthM": 1.8,
    "topSpeedKmh": 30,
    "lifespanYears": 30
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Phoca vitulina"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore (fish, squid, crustaceans)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Temperate and Arctic coastal waters"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "25–30 years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "55–130 kg (120–290 lb)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "1.5–1.9 m (5–6 ft)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Temperate and Arctic coasts on both sides of the North Atlantic and North Pacific.",
    "continents": [
      "North America",
      "Europe",
      "Asia",
      "Oceans"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Phoca vitulina.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Phoca%20vitulina&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Phoca vitulina. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phoca_vitulina/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Harbor Seal.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbor_seal"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/harbor-seal/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/harbor-seal/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}