Grey seal

Halichoerus grypus · The grey seal is a large earless "true seal" found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Also called Gray seal, Horsehead seal, Long-nosed Seal, Atlantic seal.

Grey seal
Photo: Lucc77, CC BY-SA 4.0
Grey seal
Photo: Waitblock This is a retouched picture, which means that it has been digitally altered from its original version. Modifications: Removed seaweed in background., CC BY-SA 4.0
Grey seal
Photo: Mateusz Włodarczyk, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassMammalia
OrderCarnivora
FamilyPhocidae
GenusHalichoerus
SpeciesHalichoerus grypus

Where it lives

Both sides of the North Atlantic: Canada, New England, Iceland, Britain, Ireland, Norway and the Baltic Sea.

Fun facts

  • Grey seal pups quadruple their body weight in just 18 days by drinking their mothers' extremely rich milk.
  • Grey seals can clap their flippers underwater, possibly to scare off predators or to attract a mate.
  • A grey seal mother doesn't eat at all while raising her pup, and can lose up to 40% of her weight each breeding season.
  • Grey seal milk can be up to 60% fat.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).