Gray Seal
Halichoerus grypus
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 11,707
- Most observed in
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The grey seal, or gray seal in the United States, is a large seal of the family Phocidae, which are commonly referred to as "true seals" or "earless seals". The only species classified in the genus Halichoerus, it is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. In Latin, Halichoerus grypus means "hook-nosed sea pig". It is also known as the horsehead seal, owing to its large head.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Grey seal”.