The grey seal, called gray seal in the United States, is a large true seal in the family Phocidae and the only species in the genus Halichoerus, found on both shores of the North Atlantic. Its scientific name, Halichoerus grypus, translates from Latin as hook-nosed sea pig, and it is also known as the horsehead seal for its large head. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source NatureServe Explorer: Halichoerus grypus
Source NatureServe Explorer: Halichoerus grypus
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. Grey seal (Wikipedia)
Introduction
In Latin, Halichoerus grypus means "hook-nosed sea pig". It is also known as the horsehead seal, owing to its large head.
Hunting and culling
Between 2019-2022, 3,774 grey seals were hunted in Sweden, making it the largest hunter of seals in the EU.
View the Source3. Wikidata: Halichoerus
WikidataStatements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
- Wikidata Q27370 (P225 taxon name)
Wikidata Q27370 (P1034 main food source): fish
Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): fish.
Wikidata Q27370 (P1034 main food source): Octopoda
Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): Octopoda.
- Child Taxon Of: Phocidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source 4. NatureServe Explorer: Halichoerus grypus
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
In Biome: Intertidal Zone, Species characteristics: Tidal flat/shore
"estuarineHabitatDescEn": "Tidal flat/shore"
In Biome: Neritic Zone, Species characteristics: Near shore
"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"
View the Source 5. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Halichoerus grypus (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITESQuote, Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
View the Source 6. Wikipedia: Grey seal
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