The Atlantic grey seal, scientifically known as Halichoerus grypus, is a large marine mammal belonging to the family Phocidae. It is widely distributed across the western coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean, particularly around the coastlines of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Iceland.
This species is characterized by its robust and bulky body shape, with males reaching an average length of about 2.5 meters and females measuring slightly smaller at around 1.8 meters. The adults have a thick layer of blubber that provides insulation and buoyancy while swimming in cold waters. Their fur is usually grey or light brown, often speckled with dark spots.
Atlantic grey seals are well-adapted to forage in a marine environment, thanks to their streamlined bodies and webbed flippers, which enable them to be powerful and agile swimmers. They primarily feed on a variety of fish, such as herring, cod, and flatfish, but may also consume cephalopods and crustaceans depending on availability.
Breeding of Atlantic grey seals typically occurs on rocky coastal habitats, where the females establish small territories to give birth and nurse their pups. Breeding season occurs mainly during autumn and early winter. After a gestation period of around 10 to 11 months, females will give birth to a single pup weighing approximately 10 to 16 kilograms. These pups, covered in soft white fur known as lanugo, are nursed for a few weeks to achieve substantial weight gain before starting to learn how to swim and hunt.
The conservation status of Atlantic grey seals is currently categorized as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, these seals face certain threats such as entang
