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Harp Seal Pup at Sunset

Preview A harp seal pup rests on the ice at sunset in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada.
(Brian Skerry, National Geographic)

A harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) pup rests on the ice at sunset in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada while its mother hunts. Adult harp seals have dappled gray fur, but the babies are born white and are known as "whitecoats." After 12 days of nursing, grey color begins to show and, a week later, the white fur begins to fall out in patches.