Free Teacher Resources
A gray seal mother and her white pup lying on sand.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gray Seal

Halichoerus grypus

A big North Atlantic seal, nicknamed the horsehead seal for the males' long, arched noses.

🦭 Seals and Sea Lions
Checking teacher reviews…
Teacher? Sign in to review this page →Report a mistake

About the Gray Seal

Adult male gray seals are about 7.5 feet long and can weigh more than 750 pounds; females are about 6.5 feet long. Males have an arched 'Roman' nose, which gives them the nickname horsehead seal. They live on both sides of the North Atlantic on rocky coasts, small islands and reefs. They see and hear better underwater than on land.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Halichoerus grypus[1]
Size
Males about 7.5 feet; females about 6.5 feet.[1]
Weight
Males over 750 pounds; females up to about 575 pounds.[1]
Lifespan
The oldest known wild gray seal was 46.[1]
Diet
Carnivore. At least 29 kinds of fish and invertebrates, including herring, cod, mackerel and squid.[1]
Habitat
Cold ocean waters near rocky coasts, islands and reefs.[1]
Where it lives
Both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean.[1]
Group life
Gathers in large groups to breed and molt.[1]
Babies
One pup, born on land or ice; twins are extremely rare.[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2025).[2]

Fun facts

  • Gray seals are also called horsehead seals.[1]
  • Gray seals regularly dive 230 feet for food and can reach 1,000 feet.[1]
  • A seal can briefly outrun a person on land.[1]

Vocabulary

pinniped
A sea mammal with flippers, such as a seal, sea lion or walrus.
rookery
A place where animals such as seals gather to breed.
molt
To shed an old outer covering, like skin or feathers, and grow a new one.
carnivore
An animal that eats mostly meat.
least concern
A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

  1. [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Gray seal.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/gray-seal (accessed 2026-10-08)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Halichoerus grypus (Grey Seal).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/9660/288662014 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

More Seals and Sea Lions

California Sea LionZalophus californianusHarbor SealPhoca vitulina