How can you tell the difference between a grey seal and a common seal?
How can you tell the difference between a grey seal and a common seal?
The common seal can be distinguished from the grey seal by its smaller size and shorter head with a more concave forehead. Common seals have V-shaped nostrils. They are very variable in colour, from blonde to black, but generally grey with dark spots.
What are the 18 species of seal?
| Hooded Seal Cystophora cristata | Bearded Seal Erignathus barbatus | Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus |
|---|---|---|
| Ribbon Seal Phoca fasciata | Caspian Seal Phoca caspica | Harp Seal Phoca groenlandica |
| Ringed Seal Phoca hispida | Spotted Seal Phoca largha | Baikal Seal Phoca sibirica |
| Harbour Seal Phoca vitulina |
What do GREY seals look like?
Adult female gray seals are about 7.5 feet long and weigh about 550 pounds, while adult males can reach 10 feet long and weigh about 880 pounds. Females have silver-gray or brown fur which may or may not have scattered dark spots, while males have dark gray or brown fur which may or may not have silver-gray spots.
How do you tell the difference between a male and female seal?
Other than DNA testing, the only way to confirm whether a seal is female or male is by looking at its belly.
What do seals look like?
While there are many differences among the species, all seals have feet shaped like fins. In fact, the word pinniped means “fin-footed” in Latin. Those fin-shaped feet make them supreme swimmers, and all pinnipeds are considered semi-aquatic marine mammals.
Do all seals have fur?
As their names imply, one difference between the two types of seals is their ears. Eared seals have external ear flaps, while true seals do not. Also, fur seals are so-named because they have thick fur that can trap air and help keep them warm. True seals have thin fur and use blubber for insulation.
Do seal lay eggs?
Seals are mammals. This means that their reproduction works like most mammals. It means that the sperm has to fertilize the egg inside the female. Seals mate on land about 6 weeks after seal pups are born.
Is it safe to swim with grey seals?
“Seals are like toddlers, they will put anything in their mouth.” She added that seals carried diseases which were highly infectious to humans so even a small bite could cause serious harm. “You should never swim over to where they are because that’s when you get issues,” she said.
Are some seals black?
The beautiful creatures, known as melanistic seals, have a striking velvety black coat. While grey seals are normally born white and shed their fur to expose a grey coat, around one in 400 are born with this stunning black fur instead.
What color are female seals?
Males are dark brown, gray, or black with smaller, lighter spots. Females have a tan or light gray background with darker spots.
What are common seals?
The smaller of our two UK seal species, common seals are also known as harbour seals. Despite being called “Common”, they are actually less common than grey seals!
How can you tell a common seal from a grey seal?
The common seal can be distinguished from the grey seal by its smaller size and shorter head with a more concave forehead. Common seals have V-shaped nostrils. They are very variable in colour, from blonde to black, but generally grey with dark spots.
Where do seals come out of the water?
The majority of haul out sites (areas where seals come out of the water to rest, interact socially and pup) are found along the Scottish coast, with additional populations in The Wash, the Thames and Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland. Common seals tend to be found in smaller groups up to 20-30 individuals.
What do baby seals look like when they are born?
The pups moult in the uterus and are therefore born with a brown coat, ready to swim. Because of this common seals can breed in tidal areas, such as estuaries and can be seen swimming and diving with their mother just hours after birth. Size: Up to 300kg (males), 200kg (females) and 2.5 m; males noticeably larger than females
