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Glite Dictionary
Phoca vitulina

Phoca vitulina

9.9
A small spotted seal that lives along coasts in the Northern Hemisphere and is called the harbor seal
  • proper noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Phoca vitulina
  • The Phoca vitulina is often seen basking on rocks.

Examples

  • In Alaska, the Phoca vitulina population is thriving.

  • Sightings of Phoca vitulina increase during the breeding season.

  • Marine biologists study the behavior of Phoca vitulina in their natural habitats.

  • The Phoca vitulina is frequently seen basking on rocks along the coast.

  • Marine biologists study the behavior of Phoca vitulina in their natural habitats.

  • Sightings of Phoca vitulina increase during the breeding season.

  • The Phoca vitulina is frequently seen basking on rocks along the coast.

Synonyms

harbor seal
vsPhoca vitulina
  • US
1 3.9

A small spotted seal that lives along coasts in the Northern Hemisphere

is the scientific name used for the same small spotted seal
common seal
vsPhoca vitulina
  • UK
3.8

A small, spotted sea animal that lives on cold northern coasts

is the scientific name rather than the common English name for the species

Surface Forms

Phoca vitulina main

Morphology

Phoca + vitulina

The binomial structure (Genus + species) makes it clear that this is a particular species of Phoca, so a learner who knows the constituents would infer it names a kind of seal. However the species epithet 'vitulina' is Latin and not transparently meaningful to a B1 learner, and the common name 'harbor seal' and specific natural-history details are not predictable from the parts, so the transparency is only partial.

Etymology

Phoca vitulina comes from old words: Phoca means 'seal' and vitulina may mean 'little calf'. One popular story says people used 'little calf' because the small, spotted, soft look of young seals reminded them of calves, and that image explains why the Latin name refers to the 'harbor seal' today.