David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mammals
56 – 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
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
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
·
Except
for the first three images, this series of photographs of a swimming Atlantic Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus was taken in Lerwick Harbour, Shetland, after the
seal suddenly emerged, twice, close to the sea wall. The first emergence was in
bright sunshine, and the second under cloud-cover. 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’ lower part of their nostrils (most obviously so when they are
closed, not truly parallel but less ‘V’-shaped than those of the latter – as
illustrated in the first photograph and several others). 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.
·
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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