'Phoca vitulina' definitions:
Definition of 'Phoca vitulina'
(from WordNet)
noun
Small spotted seal of coastal waters of the northern hemisphere [syn: harbor seal, common seal, Phoca vitulina]
Definition of 'Phoca vitulina'
From: GCIDE
- Seal \Seal\ (s[=e]l), n. [OE. sele, AS. seolh; akin to OHG. selah, Dan. sael, Sw. sj[aum]l, Icel. selr.] (Zool.) Any aquatic carnivorous mammal of the families Phocidae and Otariidae. [1913 Webster]
- Note: Seals inhabit seacoasts, and are found principally in the higher latitudes of both hemispheres. There are numerous species, bearing such popular names as {sea lion}, sea leopard, sea bear, or ursine seal, fur seal, and sea elephant. The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), the hooded seal ({Cystophora cristata}), and the ringed seal (Phoca foetida), are northern species. See also Eared seal, Harp seal, Monk seal, and Fur seal, under Eared, Harp, Monk, and Fur. Seals are much hunted for their skins and fur, and also for their oil, which in some species is very abundant. [1913 Webster]
- Harbor seal (Zool.), the common seal (Phoca vitulina). It inhabits both the North Atlantic and the North Pacific Ocean, and often ascends rivers; -- called also {marbled seal}, native seal, river seal, bay seal, {land seal}, sea calf, sea cat, sea dog, dotard, ranger, selchie, tangfish. [1913 Webster]