Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
Habitat
Common seals inhabit coastal waters, estuaries, and beaches in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. They prefer areas with access to shallow waters for foraging and haul-out sites like rocks, sandbars, or ice floes for resting. These habitats range from temperate to subarctic regions, avoiding deep open oceans.
Diet
Common seals primarily eat fish such as herring, sand lance, and cod, along with invertebrates like squid and crustaceans. They hunt by diving underwater, using their whiskers to sense vibrations from prey, and typically feed during dawn and dusk. Their feeding behavior involves swallowing prey whole, with daily consumption varying based on availability.
Behavior
Common seals are social animals that often form groups on land or in water, though they can be solitary while foraging. They are primarily diurnal, spending time hauled out on beaches to rest, molt, and avoid predators, and exhibit territorial behavior during breeding seasons. They are agile swimmers, capable of diving to depths of up to 200 meters, and communicate through vocalizations like barks and grunts.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status of the common seal is Least Concern, with populations stable or increasing in some regions due to conservation efforts. Major threats include habitat loss, pollution, and bycatch in fishing nets.