Genus Pagophilus (Noun)
Meaning
Harp seals.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Harp seals belong to the genus Pagophilus, which is a group of earless seals that are well adapted to life in the Arctic and sub-Arctic waters.
- The genus Pagophilus consists of a single species, the harp seal, which is one of the most common and widespread pinnipeds in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Harp seals of the genus Pagophilus are characterized by their distinctive V-shaped markings on their backs, which give them their name.
- The genus Pagophilus is thought to have diverged from other pinnipeds around 5-7 million years ago, and since then has evolved into a unique and highly specialized group.
- In the genus Pagophilus, harp seals are the only species that migrates to the Arctic ice floes to give birth and nurse their young.