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Pinniped Species
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Bearded Seal -
Caribbean Monk Seal -
Crabeater Seal -
Caspian Seal -
Gray Seal -
Harbor Seal -
Harp Seal -
Hawaiian Monk Seal -
Hooded Seal -
Leopard seal -
Mediterranean Monk Seal -
Northern Elephant Seal -
Ribbon Seal -
Ringed Seal -
Southern Elephant Seal -
Spotted Seal -
Weddel Seal
All
x
- – No known individuals remaining.
- – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.
- – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
- – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
- – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a higher risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
- – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction.
- – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.
Gray Seal
- – No known individuals remaining.
- – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.
- – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of extinction in the wild.
- – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
- – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
- – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a higher risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
- – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction.
- – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.
Males – 10ft
Females – 7.5ft
Males – 880lbs
Females – 550lbs
Gray seals are found along coastal areas from Massachusetts to the Baltic Sea across North Atlantic. Young seals disperse broadly, sometimes traveling over 1,000 miles from where they were born.
These seals are named for their coloration. They have a silver-grey coat with dark spots scattered throughout. Male gray seals also have a long arched nose. Pups are born with a creamy white fur that sheds 3 weeks after birth.
Fish, crustaceans, squid, octopus and even seabirds on occasion.
Gray seals are founded generally in cold coastal waters. They share their habitat with many organisms such as Harbor seals.
There are three different stocks spread throughout the world and the Baltic Sea stock is listed as “endangered” but other two: Western and Eastern North Atlantic stocks continue to grow in numbers.
Humans impact the Gray seal populations with oil spill exposure, boat strikes, marine debris, hunting and harassment. Over the last few centuries, Gray seals were hunted in large numbers, but in recent years their numbers have begun to bounce back.
Gray seals can hold their breath for over 1 hour. Their scientific name means “hook-nosed sea pig” in Latin.
