harbor seal

noun

1. a small, spotted seal, Phoca vitulina, of the Atlantic coasts of North America and Europe and the Pacific coast of northern North America.

Word History and Origins

Origin of harbor seal¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Their diet centered on smaller marine mammals including harbor seals and harbor porpoises, and they usually traveled and foraged in groups of about five.

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Pelicans glided over the cresting waves, while a harbor seal watched the surfers for a bit before diving under the surface and disappearing from sight.

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Diving in a kelp forest in Monterey Bay recently, I watched a tubby 200-pound harbor seal follow a fellow diver, nibbling on his flippers.

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Other mammal species that have since been infected include skunks, domestic cats, bottlenose dolphins, harbor seals, foxes, mountain lions and coyotes.

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The waters east of the Golden Gate Bridge were chock- full of life — sea lions and harbor seals galore — but not a cetacean to be seen.

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