vitulina

Vitulina is a Latin-derived epithet used in zoological nomenclature. It is not typically recognized as a standalone genus name in contemporary taxonomic databases. The most prominent association with vitulina is as the species epithet in binomial names for seals, most notably in relation to the harbor seal. In older or alternative classifications, the harbor seal has been placed as Phoca vitulina or Pusa vitulina, reflecting historical changes in pinniped taxonomy.

The harbor seal (Phoca vitulina, also listed in some classifications as Pusa vitulina) is a medium-sized pinniped native to temperate coastal waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific. Adults typically weigh between 50 and 100 kilograms, with lengths around 1.2 to 1.9 meters, though individuals can be larger or smaller. They have short, rounded bodies, and their fur ranges from gray to brown with darker spots or rings. Harbor seals are adept at swimming and diving, feeding primarily on fish and invertebrates, and they can remain submerged for several minutes. They haul out on beaches, rocks, and ice to rest, breed, and nurse pups. Pups are typically born in the spring and early summer and are nursed for several weeks before weaning.

Etymology and usage: vitulina derives from Latin vitulus, meaning calf, with the feminine form vitulina implying “calf-like” or “of a calf.” In modern taxonomy, vitulina appears mainly as a species epithet rather than as a standalone genus. If a particular taxon or domain is meant, providing the full binomial name will help locate the precise usage. See also Phoca vitulina and Pusa vitulina for the harbor seal context.