General Description: Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) are marine mammals without ears (they have ear openings and can hear, but they don't have external ear pinnae). Harbor Seals can not turn their hind flippers forward (compare with Sea Lions). For seals, Harbor Seals are fairly small (length to about 5 ft; weight to about 250 pounds). The color pattern ranges from black with white spots to white with black spots; other species of seal are more uniform in appearance.

Favored Habitat: Northern oceans and coastal areas of North America.

Taxonomy: Order Carnivora, Suborder Caniformia, Family Phocidae (Hair Seals; Earless Seals).

Where to Find: Don't look for Harbor Seals around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them on trips to the Pacific Coast. Harbor Seals like places to "haul out" of the water, so look for them along rocky coastlines and on floating docks.

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