What Is a Young Seal Called?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 25, 2020

A young seal is called a pup. Adult males are called bulls, while adult females are called cows. A large group of seals congregating during breeding season is known as a harem.

Seals are marine mammals that belong to the clade Pinnipedia. The seal’s morphology features a streamlined body, a round head, reduced ear flaps and paddle-shaped flippers. All seals are carnivorous. Most species of seal are generalist feeders with diets consisting largely of fish and squid, although some feed on other prey such as crustaceans or mollusks. Seals are targets for larger predators, such as the polar bear, the great white shark and the killer whale.