The young of marine mammals, known as pinnipeds, often lead to confusion, with people guessing terms like “cub” or “kit.” Seals (family Phocidae) are recognizable fin-footed creatures, yet their young are often misidentified. Understanding the correct terminology helps clarify their life stages and characteristics within the marine ecosystem.
The General Term: Pup
The standard, widely accepted term for a baby seal is a pup. This designation is used from birth until the young seal is fully weaned from its mother. The term is shared with the young of other mammals, such as dogs and beavers, likely due to shared behavior or general appearance. For instance, in several Germanic languages, the word for seal directly translates to “sea dog.”
A seal remains a pup for a relatively short period, often just a few weeks, depending on the species. During this time, the young animal relies completely on its mother’s high-fat milk, allowing it to gain weight rapidly. Once weaned, the young seal is often left to fend for itself and must quickly learn to hunt and survive independently. The designation of “pup” marks this distinct, dependent phase of early life.
Specialized Names for Developing Seals
While “pup” is the general term, some species have specialized names describing a temporary developmental stage. The most recognized example is the whitecoat, a name given to the harp seal pup during its initial few weeks of life. This moniker refers to the pup’s dense, bright white coat of fur, which provides camouflage against the Arctic ice where they are born.
The whitecoat develops after the pup sheds an initial yellowish coat. Once a pup has been separated from its mother and is no longer nursing but has not yet reached full juvenile independence, it may be referred to as a weanling. This transitional phase is marked by the pup’s initial struggle to hunt for itself, often resulting in a temporary loss of body weight.
How Baby Seals Differ from Sea Lion Pups
The term “pup” is used for the young of all pinnipeds, including true seals (Phocidae) and sea lions (Otariidae), but their early development differs significantly. True seal pups, often called “earless seals,” lack external ear flaps and possess only small ear holes. They have short fore-flippers and cannot rotate their hind flippers forward.
This anatomical difference means true seal pups cannot walk on land; instead, they move with an awkward, undulating motion known as “galumphing.” Sea lion pups, in contrast, have visible external ear flaps and large, rotating flippers. These flippers allow them to walk or even gallop on all four limbs shortly after birth. Sea lion mothers invest more time in rearing their young, with pups nursing for a longer duration than true seal pups.