Food and Hunting
The gray seal feeds primarily on fish. Its large eyes have flat corneas that enable it to see well in murky water. Still, its sense of hearing and taste are more important when hunting, and even blind seals have no difficulty catching prey. The gray seal has no external ears, but it has a sensitive internal hearing apparatus to help in tracking prey. Its muzzle and whiskers are sensitive enough to feel water movements made by escaping prey as the seal moves closer. Its large, highly sensitive nose, called a rhinarium, is used to detect chemical changes in the water that indicate the presence of prey. Once prey is detected, the seal fives chase with great mobility and speed. Because its blood contains large amounts of hemoglobin, which stores oxygen, it can stay underwater for as long as 20 minutes. When it dives, its heart rate slows to conserve oxygen.
Gray seal and Man
Seals have been hunted by man for thousands of years. Their skins were used for clothing and their blubber was a source of oil for lamps. Many coastal people made seal meat a staple of their diet. In most recent times, gray seal pups were killed for their white fur to supply the fashion industy. Today, due to the efforts of conservationists, the fur is no longer so desirable. The slaughter of seal pups has almost completely stopped. Gray seals are not popular with everyone, however. Some fishermen claim that they eat too many salmon and cod. But scientist say that the seals do not seriously reduce the numbers of these fish.
Did you know?
The gray seal's Latin name is derived from Greek and means "little pig from the sea."
Scientists estimate the age of dead seals by counting the number of rings in the roots of the canine teeth, similarly to counting tree rings.
Gray seals appear to cry because, unlike humans, they have no glad to control the eyes' secretions.
Gray seals travel hundreds of miles from their breeding rookery.
Distribution
Northeast and northwest Atlantic, as well as the Baltic Sea.
Size
Length: Male, up to 11 feet. Female, 8 feet.
Weight: Male, up to 700 lbs. Female, 450 lbs.
Lifestyle
Habit: Solitary hunters; sociable on shore.
Call: deep wailing song.
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