Grey Seal [Halichoerus grypus]
Description
Grey seals are large marine mammals and one of the two largest seal species in the UK. They are characterized by their long, horse-like faces. Males, known as bulls, are typically larger than females and have a darker, often speckled pelt. Females, known as cows, are typically lighter in color, often silver or cream. Grey seals primarily inhabit the North Atlantic and can be found on both shores of the Atlantic Ocean, from the United States and Canada to the British Isles, Scandinavia, and Russia. They are known for their unique 'bottling' behavior, where they float vertically in the water with their heads sticking out. Grey seals are opportunistic feeders, with a diet consisting mainly of fish, but also squids, octopuses, and crustaceans.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Mammals
Mammalia
|
| Order |
Carnivorans
Carnivora
|
| Family |
Earless Seals
Phocidae
|
| Genus |
Grey Seals
Halichoerus
|