Seals are warm-blooded, air breathing mammals that live in or near the sea. Other Names: Atlantic seal, Horsehead seal, Pets Home Guide Praying Mantis Polar Bear Facts Possum Facts, Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Disclaimer, Great Horned Owl Tasmanian Devil Siberian Tiger, Animals Answers Golden Retriever Breed Animals Diet Recliners Guide, Cookie Cutter Shark Facts for Kids – Cookie Cutter Shark Interesting Facts, Greenland Shark Facts for Kids – Greenland Shark Interesting Facts & Information, Megalodon Shark Facts for Kids – Megalodon Shark Facts and Information, Tasmanian Devil Facts for Kids – Fun Facts & Information, Wedge Tailed Eagle Facts for Kids – Australian Wedge Tailed Eagle Facts, Harpy Eagle Facts for Kids – Harpy Eagle Fun Facts, Elephant Facts for Kids – Largest Land Mammals, Swamp Wallaby Facts – Amazing Facts and Information. Grey seal is covered with thick fur that can be brown, silver, light or dark grey in color with light or dark-colored blotches. It is the only member from its genus. Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) belongs to the family of true seals. They have massive shoulders and necks with large folds of skin. They are also known as “earless seals.” Grey seals are Christmas kids. fur seals and sea lions) and odobenidae (walrus). They are found in colonies off Ireland and United Kingdom. Harbor Seal Facts. Other names for the gray whales are ‘Pacific gray whale,’ ‘gray back whale,’ and California gray whale.’ Grey seal pups weigh only around 14 kg at birth. They use their strong rear flippers to propel themselves through the water, while using their tail to steer. However their mother’s high fat milk allows them to quickly bulk up and develop the blubber which is essential for survival in the cold sea water. The gray seal (grey seal, Halichoerus grypus). Generally, they … There are 33 species of seals found throughout the world. Grey seal pups weigh only around 14 kg at birth. The gray patches on their skin gave the gray whales their name. For the first few weeks of the pup’s life, the mother will feed them around 6 times a day, for up to 10 minutes at a time. Grey seals also have high levels of haemoglobin (red blood pigment which carries oxygen around the body). Gray seals grow to a maximum length of 10 feet (3 m) and weight of 880 pounds (400 kg). Seals are a prey source of marine mammal eating sharks, so this and the growing gray seal population may be the reasons we are seeing more great whites closer to shore in Massachusetts when seals are present during the summer. There are plenty of fun facts to learn about seals. This helps … It is a large seal of the family Phocidae, which are commonly referred to as "true seals" or "earless seals". Only their hands and feet extend outside the body envelope. Mother grey seals remain close to their infant during the first weeks of their life. There are many different species including fur seals, sea lions, and common seals. Fun facts. Grey seals give birth during the middle of the winter. Norfolk now holds claim to hosting the largest pupping site in England at Blakeney Point, with over 3,000 pups being born in 2018/19. Seals are fin-footed, semiaquatic marine mammals. They are very interesting creatures that you may think do nothing but lie on the land or seek food in the water. Bulls (males) have darker color of their fur. They rarely feed for themselves during this period and lose up to a quarter of their own weight before the pup is ready to be weaned. During the winter months Grey seals can be seen hauled out on the rocks, islands and shoals not far from shore like great grey bananas in the sun and occasionally coming ashore to rest. Learn about their lives with these seal and sea lion facts. Grey Seals are a member of the “true seals” family phocidae. A gray seal's coat color varies from gray to brown, but most have darker backs than bellies. Grey seals hunt alone out at sea. Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)also known as the Common Seal Species Code: PHVI Description: Harbor seals are brown, tan, or gray, with V-shaped nostrils. Its coat is greyish-brown to silver in color. Mother and pup grey seals have a strong bond from birth. Around half the global population of grey seals are found around the British coasts. For further information visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org. The grey seal’s scientific name derives from the Greek for ‘hook-nosed sea pig’. Grey seals can dive to depths of around 70 metres when searching for food. It is the only member from its genus. Grey seals are known to dive regularly to about 30-70m while feeding. common seal), otaridae, eared seals (eg. It has a large snout with no ear flaps. Grey seals live on average for 25 - 35 years. Males are much bigger than females. Grey seals are able to remain underwater for up to 16 minutes, although they normally tend to resurface after periods of around 5-10 minutes. Its coat is greyish-brown to silver in color. Gray seals live in the North Atlantic Ocean. As a mammal species, the grey seal is unable to breathe underwater, however it is able to stay underwater for so long by slowing its heart rate to conserve oxygen. More information Accept. Other Fun Facts Pages. Females lack the distinctive arched nose and are more delicately featured. Well that's just one of the fun facts we've got for you about grey seal pups. Fun Seal Facts for Kids. They hang around with their family on the beach for the first month of their lives before they test the water. They prefer barren uninhabited islands and often go back to the same beach each year to breed. Its name is spelled gray seal in the US; it is also known as Atlantic seal and the horsehead seal. Sand eels or sand lances are the preferred prey in many areas. Grey seals are the biggest land breeding mammal in the United Kingdom. Females give birth to a single pup on a shore alongside hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of other seals. It’s a piss take of John Lennon and his pontificating: perhaps. This large seal is native to the North Atlantic. Mainly grey in colour, the unique pattern of darker blotches and spots can be used to identify individuals. Learn more about seal habitats, what seals eat, how long they live and other interesting information with our fun seal facts. Seals share a common ancestor with dogs and bears and have upper and lower arms and legs concealed within their skin. Bulls (males) have darker color of their fur. 1. In 2004, a pernent group started to form, which grew to more than 900 in 2013. Baby, baby, baby. Grey seals were seen again in the delta region for the first time since Medieval Times in 2003. Quick facts about this adorable marine mammal! Leopard seals do not play well with others! Adults are around 250 centimeters long and weigh around 300 kilograms. Unlike cow greys, the nose of bulls is larger in size. However, females (cows) are 5.2 to 6.6 feet long and weigh around 220 to 420 pounds. The colour of grey seals varies from blackish with white specks and splotches to whitish with black markings. The weight of a newborn pup is 30 pounds. Atlantic gray seal facts! Grey seals’ hands and feet are formed into webbed flippers. Seals are found in most waters of the world, mainly in the Arctic and Antarctica but also in some areas of the tropics. They have a rounded, spindle-shaped body. Image by samnat33 from Pixabay. Seals are divided in 3 families: phocidae, the earless or true seal (eg. 2. Looking straight on, their nostrils are parallel, rather than v-shaped as in common seals. The grey seal can be distinguished from the common seal by its larger size and longer head with a sloping 'roman nose' profile. Grey seals eat a wide variety of fish, squid, octopus and crustaceans such as shrimp. Male grey seals (bulls) are larger than females (cows) and are darker in colour. This is a medium sized seal when it is full grown. The large colonies of such seals are also present off coasts of New Jersey (U.S.) and Canada. Males are darker colored than females. The Gray seal distinguished from the harbour seal by its straight head, fewer spots on the body and they are also larger. Spots or rings are visible on the dorsal surface (backside) and much more sparse on the underside. The pups … Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) Conservation status Grey seals were the first mammals to be protected by modern legislation - the Grey Seals Protection Act of 1914. Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) belongs to the family of true seals. Habitat and Distribution. Grey seals breed from September to December around the British coasts. Grey seals are present in huge numbers off Northumberland coast, off Lincolnshire, Scottish island Rona, Orkney Islands, coasts of Dublin and Pembrokeshire. They … Tim Burton from Uk Grey Seal - Walrus - I am the walrus? The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. The scientific Greek name of this seal means ‘hooked-nose sea-pig’. It can reach up to 5.8 meters in length … They also have powerful shoulders which enable them to haul themselves onto steep and slippery rocks. The Gray Seal is one that many people have seen in pictures. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Their large eyes allow them to see well in dark murky waters; however their highly sensitive ears are most important for locating prey. The Some of our website features may not function as a result. Leopard seals will eat penguins and smaller seals, according to Seals World. The Grey Seals in comparison have their pups between November and January and their young cannot swim until they have lost their first fluffy white coat. Grey seals are charismatic animals, which will often be seen hauled out in favourite spots along the Norfolk coast. Amazing Facts About the Grey Seal Grey seals are the biggest land breeding mammal in the United Kingdom. The scientific Greek name of this seal means ‘hooked-nose sea-pig’. • Expert hunters: Grey seals can see and hear better underwater than they can on land. There are 33 known species of pinnipeds found in various locations around the world. Gray Seal – Halichoerus grypus Description. Grey seal pups weigh around 14 kg at birth and are born white with a yellowish tint. They also eat crustaceans like shrimps, crabs as well as cephalopods including octopuses, squids. Grey seals are shot in the UK by fish farmers and fishermen. 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