Harbour Seal Coast Colouring

The harbour seal is a true seal found along cool and temperate coasts of the North Atlantic and North Pacific. It lives around bays, estuaries, rocky islands, sandy beaches, and glacial fjords across North America, Europe, and Asia. Adults are usually about 1.5 to 1.8 metres long and weigh roughly 80 to 130 kilograms. Females often live 25 to 30 years, while males may have somewhat shorter lives. Harbour seals usually remain near familiar coastal areas, although individuals can travel hundreds of kilometres to follow food or find a safe place to give birth. A short dog-like muzzle, round head, large eyes, and spotted coat make this seal easy to recognise. True seals have no outer ear flaps, only small ear openings. Their front flippers are short, and their hind flippers cannot rotate underneath the body like a sea lion's. On land, a harbour seal wriggles in a caterpillar-like motion. In water it becomes a graceful swimmer, steering with its front flippers and sweeping the hind flippers from side to side. It hunts fish, squid, shrimp, and other crustaceans. A seal can close its nostrils, slow its heartbeat during a dive, and even sleep underwater before surfacing for air. Pups can swim soon after birth. This scene shows one seal resting safely on a low rock while another swims nearby. Harbour seal coats range from silvery grey and tan to dark charcoal, with dark spots on a light background or pale rings on a dark one. Choose a base colour first, then fill the outlined spots with a contrasting brown, grey, or cream. Leave the whiskers and small facial highlights white. The swimming seal may use a slightly different pattern. Colour the rocks in layered greys, browns, or muted purple and the calm water in blue, teal, or sea green. Keep wave tops white, make the distant island green-grey, and add the palest blue to the clouds. Broad curved strokes will help both seals look smooth and round.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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