Play in Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina)

• Published in: Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Renouf, D., Lawson, J. W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1986
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Phoca vitulina
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1986.tb04710.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1469-7998.1986.tb04710.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1986.tb04710.x; https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1986.tb04710.x

Harbour seals in a breeding colony at Miquelon exhibited 13 distinct types of play behaviour, 80% of which was solitary locomotor play. Most play was displayed by yearlings and juveniles, though a significant amount of adult play occurred as well. Mothers and pups rarely played. Yearlings played socially as often as alone, but seals of other age classes played by themselves most often. Only social play resembled adult activities. It is suggested that the function of mammalian play has been obscured by its similarity to adult behaviour.