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Harbor Seal


Harbor Seal
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6168] (21078)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Seals, Animal portraits [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-04-02 11:48
Viewed: 1168
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina

The gregarious Harbor Seal spends much time basking on beaches and rocky shores, sometimes alone but usually with several other individuals, and occasionally in groups numbering in the thousands. Whether alone or in a group, it stays alert to danger; a single seal spends much more time watching for danger than does one that is part of a group. At the first sign of trouble, it gives an alarm bark and dives into the water. The Harbor Seal can dive to 1,460 feet (446 m) deep and remain submerged for 27 minutes. It feeds mostly on fish, including rockfish, herring, cod, mackerel, flounder, and salmon, but it eats some mollusks (about 5 percent of the diet), such as squid, clams, and octopus, and sometimes crayfish, crab, and shrimp. Some seals learn to steal fish from nets, often damaging them and incurring the wrath of commercial fishermen. This species feeds when the tide comes in, sometimes ascending rivers with it, and in the spring may follow fish runs up a river for hundreds of miles, returning to coastal waters in the fall. The animal hauls out at low tide, sleeping high and dry until the next rising tide unless disturbed. The Harbor Seal becomes sexually mature at three to seven years of age. Pups are usually born with adult fur, having shed the lanugo before birth. They are often born in the intertidal zone and can follow the mother on land or into the water within five minutes of birth. The young’s vocalizations keep the mother and young in contact. A pup often stays on the mother’s back while she dives. A female may lose more than 35 percent of her weight during lactation, which lasts about four weeks. She mates within a few days after weaning the young. An individual Harbor Seal may live for 30 or more years. Polar Bears, Northern Sea Lions, killer whales, and sharks are the main predators aside from humans; golden eagles sometimes prey on pups.

description Highly variable in coloration; two main color types: white, light gray, yellowish gray, or brownish; with dark spots: and black, gray, or brown with light rings. Most often yellowish gray or brownish with dark spots; spotted creamy white below. Sometimes colored with an orange, rust, or green cast (found on one-fifth of the animals in San Francisco Bay), possibly due to algal growth. Nostrils close together, V-shaped. Male larger than female. L male 4' 7"–6' 2" (1.4–1.9 m), female 3' 11"–5' 7" (1.2–1.7 m); T 3 3/8"–4 1/2" (8.7–11.5 cm); Wt male to 308 lb (140 kg), female to 175 lb (80 kg).

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hummingbird24, sAner, scottevers7, AndyB, TAZ, roconnell has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

He certainly seems intrigued with you, Manyee. Interesting composition and detail. TFS.

A very nice photo on this Harbor Seal. Excellent color and detail. If possible I would try and crop out dome of the foreground, as it is distracting from your main subject. Very informative notes!

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2005-04-02 18:41]

A really nice capture.
I'd love to see one in the wild.
Good composition and details,a very informative and interesting note too.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-04-03 0:07]

Compostion intéressante pour ce Phoque. Voilà un animal que je n'ai pas l'habitude de voir en france ;-)
Well done.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-04-03 12:10]

Very nice picture (I like the puppy eyes) and informative note. TFS!

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2005-04-03 12:56]

Great shot of this seal. Good sharpness and colors. What a good camouflage they have !

Mario

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-04-03 14:31]

This is a beautiful composition and the sharpness is excellent. I love its eye's. I learnt a lot from your notes as well.

Very well done and thanks for posting

Beautiful view of the harbor seal. The lighting is wonderful and there is a nice symmetry in the rocky shore and the coat of the seal.

Manyee where was this picture tucked away? I love this one! This is a fantastic shot of a Harbor Seal. I like it just the way it is. The foreground is a nice touch. Paul :)

Great composition, clear, sharp and contrasty. Very nice photo.

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