David Element's Wildlife Web Page Mammals 28

David Element

Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images

_______________________________________________________________________________________ Mammals 28 - Atlantic Grey Seals

ATLANTIC GREY SEAL Halichoerus grypus

These Atlantic Grey Seals Halichoerus grypus were photographed on the Norfolk coast. The size difference between the growing pups and the splendid adult bull shown in the first photograph is very conspicuous. Two of the diagnostic features that most readily enable the females and juveniles of this species to be separated from the Common or Harbour Seal Phoca vitulina (not overtly sexually dimorphic and illustrated on Mammals 29) are prominent, namely the ‘dog-like’ shape of the long nose (although ideally this needs to be seen in profile) and the ‘parallel’ nostrils (most obviously so when they are closed, not truly parallel but less ‘V’-shaped than those of the latter). Colour patterns may be extremely variable, and they cannot be used reliably for identification. The fur may have a different appearance according to age, whether it is wet or dry, variable lighting conditions or periods of moult so sometimes these seals can be surprisingly difficult to separate in the field. Adult bull Grey Seals (see first photograph on Mammals 28) are very distinctive and much easier to identify.