Grey Seal

Irish name: Rón mór
Scientific name: Halichoerus grypus

This seal is found on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean although the greatest proportion of the population is found in UK waters. It occurs in greatest numbers on the western seaboard of Ireland although two populations of Grey Seal are found both within Dublin Bay and at the Saltees Islands, Co Wexford.

This seal is quite large with males, or bulls, reaching 2.5–3.3 m long and weighing up to 300 kg; the cows are much smaller, typically 1.6–2.0 m long and 100–150 kg weight. The colour of this species ranges from grey to brown and normally has blotches of lighter or darker fur over its body. The colour of the body tends to be darker over the dorsal (back) than the ventral (belly) surface. The body is streamlined to allow easy swimming and both the fore and hind limbs have been modified into flippers used to propel the seal through the water. These seals, whilst quite large, are very well adapted to swimming and the marine environment. This seal can be distinguished from common (harbour seals) by the parallel arrangement of the nostrils, large dog-like snout and much larger size.

These seals generally breed in Irish Waters from September to December on remote and generally undisturbed areas, in particular offshore islands. Pups are born with a white coast that they shed before they can take to the water, usually after about six weeks. The mother stays with the pups whilst they remain on the shore. These seals shed their fur during the spring months and remain ashore for the majority of this time. Counts of these seals are undertaken during the pupping and moulting period to allow an estimate on the national population to be generated.

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Grey Seal  Halichoerus grypus (Photo: Mike Brown)

Click on the following link for more information:

National Parks & Wildlife Service, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2. Phone: +353 1 8882000 Fax: +353 1 8883272

 National Parks & Wildlife Service, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2. Phone: +353 1 8882000 Fax: +353 1 8883272