David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
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Mammals
38 – Atlantic Grey Seals
ATLANTIC GREY SEAL Halichoerus grypus
ATLANTIC GREY SEAL Halichoerus grypus
ATLANTIC GREY SEAL Halichoerus grypus
ATLANTIC GREY SEAL Halichoerus grypus
ATLANTIC GREY SEAL Halichoerus grypus
ATLANTIC GREY SEAL Halichoerus grypus
ATLANTIC GREY SEAL Halichoerus grypus
ATLANTIC GREY SEAL Halichoerus grypus
ATLANTIC GREY SEAL Halichoerus grypus
·
This
series of photographs of an Atlantic Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus was taken on a beach in East Anglia. 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.
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David’s film of Atlantic Grey Seals in action
may be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AirIEc0Nod8oyCwMMg9wmLQUzX-0wkp.
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