Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Carnivora
- Family
- Phocidae
- Genus
- Halichoerus
Habitat
Grey seals primarily inhabit coastal waters of the North Atlantic, including rocky shores, islands, and sandy beaches for hauling out and breeding. They prefer temperate to subarctic regions such as the coasts of the UK, Iceland, and eastern Canada, where they have access to both marine foraging areas and safe terrestrial sites.
Diet
Grey seals mainly feed on fish like herring, cod, and flatfish, which they hunt by diving to depths of up to 200 meters. They are opportunistic predators and may also eat squid, octopus, or crustaceans, with feeding typically occurring during dawn and dusk in coastal waters.
Behavior
Grey seals are social mammals that form large colonies on beaches for breeding and resting, though they hunt solitarily in the ocean. Males exhibit territorial behavior during the mating season, aggressively defending harems of females. They are excellent swimmers, capable of diving for up to 20 minutes, and spend considerable time basking on rocks to regulate body temperature.
Conservation Status
The grey seal is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with populations generally stable or increasing due to conservation efforts. Major threats include entanglement in fishing gear, habitat loss from coastal development, and pollution from marine debris.