Description: The harbour seal (also known as the common seal) has a streamlined body covered with a thick layer of fat (blubber) under the skin which helps keep the animal warm. The fur is brownish-grey with small dark spots giving the coat a mottled appearance. The limbs have been modified into flippers for swimming. The head is rounded with a short muzzle and large eyes. Males can grow up to 1.8m in length; females are smaller, up to 1.5m. When hauled out on the shore common seals often lie in a head up, tail up position.

Habitat: Prefers to haul out in sheltered inshore bays and estuaries - habitat varies from rocky shores to mudflats and sandbars usually close to deep water and good feeding areas.

Distribution: There are four regional subspecies of common seal, the Eastern Atlantic subspecies Phoca vitulina vitulina, can be found from northern Portugal and France to Svalbard and the Barents Sea. It can be found all around the coast of Northern Ireland, but most are found on the County Down coastline – Strangford Lough holds the largest population in Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with the grey seal. The common seal is the smaller and has a more rounded head with a short muzzle. The nostrils of the common seal meet together and form a V-shape, while those of the grey seal are nearly parallel and do not meet. Grey seal pups are born with white fur and do not usually swim until they shed this coat at 3 to 4 weeks. Common seal pups are grey/brown at birth and can swim within an hour of being born.

Key Identification Features:

• Rounded head with a dog-like face and short muzzle
• Smaller than the grey seal
• Prefers sheltered habitats

Distribution Map from NBN: Phoca vitulina at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Phoca vitulina at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Phoca vitulina

WoRMS: Phoca vitulina at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758. AphiaID: 137084.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Chordata; Vertebrata; Gnathostomata; Tetrapoda; Mammalia; Theria; Carnivora; Caniformia; Pinnipedia; Phocidae; Phoca