Speedy Swimmers - Harbor seals have a streamlined body and strong muscles that enable them to swim with speed and grace; harbor seals can swim up to 12 miles per hour (19 kph)! Their rear flippers are used to propel the seal through the water, while front flippers are used for steering. Unlike sea lions, seals cannot rotate their rear flippers forward to walk on land.
Underwater Adaptations - Seals have large eyes adapted to see well in low light; they are able to see better than humans underwater. They have sensitive whiskers called “vibrissae” which help them detect and capture prey in murky water. They also have a higher metabolism than land mammals which help them keep warm. Harbor seals can slow their heart rate when diving and have more blood than a land mammal of the same size to conserve oxygen.
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