| Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius, 1791)) |
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Scientific name: Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius, 1791) Common name: Grey Seal French name: Phoque gris Family: Phocidae Size: Body size: 1.95 to 2.3m for males and 1.6 to 1.95m for females; Weight: 170 to 310kg for males and 100 to 190kg for females. Biotope: Sandy or rocky coastal areas. Food: Fish and molluscs. Longevity : Females can live up to 35 years. Males rarely exceed 25 years. Geographic area: North Atlantic, American side and European side, including Iceland. Baltic sea. |
Grey Seals have a fusiform body with a short fur. Males are rather dark grey with light spots and females lighter grey with dark spots. The head is massive, without a defined forehead. The muzzle is elongated and broad. Sexual maturity is reached between 3 and 5 years. Gestation lasts about 8 months and can begin after embryonic diapause. The baby seals are nursed for 16 to 17 days before going to sea where they must feed by themselves. |
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The visit to the colony of Gannets on Bonaventure Island begins with a boat trip that allows you to see the Grey Seals basking at the foot of the cliffs. |
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This side of the island seemed to me the most sheltered. Is this why these seals concentrate here? |
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Here is a closer view where you can clearly see the head of the Grey Seal with its elongated snout and no defined forehead. |
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I think the dark coloured seals with a few light spots are males. |
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If tourists appreciate the observation of Grey Seals, it seems that the passage of boats is also an attraction for these same seals. |
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A light coloured Grey Seal with dark markings, I think it's a female. |
André Bon May 2023