Phocine Seals in GURPS

The phocine seals are a group of northern seals. They typically spend most of their time far out at sea, and haul out only to whelp, moult, and breed - which for some species means they only leave the water once a year, and then only for a few weeks. Most species use ice flows for these purposes, and are almost never seen on land. When not on the ice they may travel much further south, but migrate back to the frozen north for breeding and whelping season. The seals swim with up-and-down strokes of their hind flippers. On land they move clumsily by caterpillar-humping their way along.

• The harbor seal Phoca vitulina is a common sight along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, Greenland, Northern Europe up through the Scandinavian coasts of the Arctic Ocean, the Aleutian Islands, and Kamchatka Peninsula. Herbor seals are the most shore bound of all the phocines, frequently resting on beaches, rocks, and piers along the coast. They may spend several days at sea in search of feeding grounds, and may swim up rivers to find food. These seals eat fish, squid, crustaceans, and the occasional sea bird.
• Spotted seals Phoca largha can be found from China to Alaska, although they spend the breeding season on ice flows. They are shy and quick to flee. The young eat krill and other small crustaceans while the adults eat fish.
• Ringed seals Pusa hispida are found in the arctic. They prefer areas with permanent ice cover. They maintain a hole in the ice two travel between the top of the ice flow and the water. They eat fish and crustaceans.
• The Baikal seal Pusa sibirica is found only in Lake Baikal in Siberia. They eat mainly fish, particularly Baikal oilfish and omul, and some invertebrates. Females whelp on the ice flows, and den in the ice until their pups are grown.
• Caspian seals Pusa caspica are found in the Caspian Sea. They eat fish and crustaceans.
• The harp seal Pagophilus groenlandicus is found in north-eastern Canada, Greenland, and Scandinavia. Mothers nurse their pups for two weeks, then abandon them. By this time the pup will mass nearly 35 kg, allowing it enough resources to develop further until it can swim and catch prey.
• Ribbon seals Histriophoca fasciata are found around alaska, the Aleutians, and Pacific Siberia. They eat fish and cephalopods; young seals eat crustaceans as well. They have striking black and white ringed markings around their bodies.
• Gray seals Halichoerus grypus are found on the coast of New England, north-eastern Canada, the British Isles, and Scandanavia. They mainly eat fish, but are opportunistic predators.
• Hooded seals Cystophora cristata are arctic seals from the north Atlantic, ranging from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Svalbard. They are silver-white with black heads, the males have black spots and an odd inflatable bladder on their heads that they can blow out their nose like meat-colored bubble gum. They dive deep to forage, and prey on shellfish, squid, and fish.
• Bearded seals Erignathus barbatus live thoughout the Arctic ocean. They rest on the edge of ice flows, ready to dive for safety if danger threatens. They are distinguished by their large size, bushy whiskers, and clawed, square flippers. The males "sing" in the breeding season, with calls that can be heard for kilometers. These seals whelp on small ice flows, and the pups begin swimming within hours after birth. They forage on the sea floor, eating shellfish and cod.

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