AnAge entry for Pagophilus groenlandicus

Classification (HAGRID: 02232)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Carnivora
                Family: Phocidae
                    Genus: Pagophilus
Species: Pagophilus groenlandicus
Common name: Harp seal
Synonyms: Phoca groenlandica, Pagophilus groenlandicus oceanicus, Pagophilus groenlandicus groenlandicus, Phoca albicauda, Phoca albini, Phoca leucopla, Phoca semilunaris, Phoca oceanica

Maximum longevity: Not yet established
Observations: In the wild, these animals are believed to live for more than 30 years [0443]. Their longevity in captivity has not been studied in detail, but one specimen was still alive at about 16.3 years of age [0671]. Gestation does not include the 4-month delayed implantation period.

[1032] McNab (2008), An analysis of the factors that influence the level and scaling of mammalian BMR (PubMed)
[0671] Richard Weigl (2005), Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World
[0443] Ronald Nowak (2003), Walker's Marine Mammals of the World
[0441] William Burt et al. (1998), A Field Guide to Mammals
[0455] Virginia Hayssen et al. (1993), Asdell's Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction: A Compendium of Species-Specific Data
[0542] Bernhard Grzimek (1990), Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals
[0731] Zullinger et al. (1984), Fitting sigmoid equations to mammalian growth curves