Overview
Order: Carnivora
Family: Phocidae
Species: Halichoerus grypus
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Population trend: increasing
Distribution: Widespread in the north-east Atlantic, from Spitzbergen to southern Iceland with the largest numbers in British waters.
Habitat: Open sea, rocky islands & coasts; sometimes found on sandy beaches.
Description: Variable colour; bulls usually darker than cows. Pups are white at birth. Streamlined body, large nose & eyes.
Size: Length: males up to 2.7m; female up to 1.7m. Weight: male up to 233kg; female up to 154kg.
Life-span: 26 -38 years.
Food: Fish, crustaceans & molluscs.
The grey seal is Britain's largest carnivorous mammal. Its thick, insulating layer of blubber and waterproof fur allow it to survive in cold water temperatures that would kill a human within minutes.
Read More: The solitary hunter