Harbour (common) seal
Phoca vitulina
IUCN Status:Least Concern
What do they look like?
The harbour seal is a mammal that has finely spotted grey or brown fur, a rounded head and no visible ears. It is similar in appearance to grey seals except it has distinctive ‘V’ shaped nostrils.
Where can they be found?
The Wash on the east coast of England hosts 6-7,000 common seals. Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides are also hotspots.
Did you know... When out of the water, they hold their head and flippers up in the air in what is commonly know as the 'banana pose', this helps them keep drier, and therefore warmer.
Key facts
If seen on land, it might seem quite clumsy, however underwater it's extremely agile and graceful. They are known to reach depths of 100m and can hold their breath for up to half an hour!
They're less common in the UK than the grey seal and there's a worrying trend that their numbers are continuing to decline.
| IUCN status | Least Concern |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.2-1.9m |
| Weight | 55-170kg |
| Speed and distance | Surprisingly quick in the water, harbour seals can travel at a pace of around 12mph. |
| Habitat | Rocky shore, sandy beaches, mudflats |
| Diet | The menu for harbour seals is quite varied, with squid, crustaceans and fish such as sandeels and cod featuring heavily. |
| Age lifespan | They can live for around 25-30 years. |
