# Gray Seal (*Halichoerus grypus*) Gray seals are large seals found in cold waters. They have long noses and thick fur. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Coastal waters and rocky shores. - **Also known as:** Atlantic Seal, Grey Seal ![Gray Seal](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426434/objects/4389.jpg) ## Appearance The Gray Seal has a robust, torpedo-shaped body, typically mottled gray or brownish with darker spots. Males often exhibit a more elongated, horse-like snout. Pups are born with a soft, fluffy white coat, which they shed after a few weeks to reveal their adult coloration. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Phocidae - **Genus:** Halichoerus ## Interesting facts - A baby gray seal can nearly double its weight in just three weeks! - Gray seals can travel hundreds of miles from their breeding grounds to find tasty food. - Male gray seals have a unique, long snout that makes them look a bit like a horse! - They can sometimes be seen sleeping upside down at the surface of the water! ## Special abilities - **Super Swimmer:** Gray Seals can dive over 400 meters deep and hold their breath for up to 20 minutes to hunt fish in the ocean. - **Whisker Sense:** Gray Seals have super sensitive whiskers that help them detect fish movements in dark or murky water, even without seeing them. - **Blubber Warmth:** Gray Seals have a thick layer of blubber that insulates them, keeping them warm even in freezing Arctic and North Atlantic waters. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 165-330 cm - **Weight:** 105-400 kg - **Lifespan:** 25-40 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 240-340 days ## Diet & Feeding Gray seals are expert hunters, eating a variety of fish and other sea creatures they catch underwater. - **Age differences:** Pups drink rich milk; adults eat a diverse range of fish and some invertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** Cod, Haddock, Herring, Skate, Salmon, Sand eels - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Orca (Killer Whale) (*Orcinus orca*) — Large marine predator that occasionally hunts gray seals. - **Hunts:** [Atlantic Cod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-cod) (*Gadus morhua*) — A primary prey species for gray seals in many parts of their range. - **Hunts:** Spiny Dogfish (*Squalus acanthias*) — Often preyed upon by gray seals, particularly larger individuals. - **Eaten by:** [Gray Seal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gray-seal) (*Halichoerus grypus*) — Young or sick seals can be prey for large sharks. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Observe from a distance — seals can bite. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gray Seal? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Gray Seal? 165-330 cm ### How much does Gray Seal weigh? 105-400 kg ### How long does Gray Seal live? 25-40 years ### How fast can Gray Seal move? 35 km/h ### What does Gray Seal eat? Gray seals are expert hunters, eating a variety of fish and other sea creatures they catch underwater. ### Where is Gray Seal usually found? Coastal waters and rocky shores. ### How does Gray Seal hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Fort Revere Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-revere-park) — US · State Park - [National Zoological Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/national-zoological-park) — District of Columbia, US · Zoo - [Lincoln Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lincoln-park-zoo) — Illinois, US · Zoo - [London Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/london-aquarium) — England, GB · Aquarium - [Aquarium of Niagara](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aquarium-of-niagara) — New York, US · Aquarium - [Allwetterzoo Münster](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/allwetterzoo-munster) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Gray Seal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gray-seal) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Gray Seal: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gray-seal)