- Largest seal species in the UK
- Found around most of the UK coastline, including the Shetland and Orkney Islands
- Males can grow up to 3 meters long and weigh up to 300 kilograms
- Females are smaller, reaching a maximum length of 2.3 meters and a weight of 150 kilograms
- Grey seals have distinctive grey-brown fur and a large head with a Roman nose
Common seal (_Phoca vitulina_):
- Smaller than the grey seal, with males reaching a maximum length of 1.9 meters and a weight of 130 kilograms
- Females are even smaller, growing up to 1.4 meters long and weighing up to 80 kilograms
- Common seals have a more rounded head than grey seals and their fur can vary in color from light brown to dark grey
- They are found around most of the UK coastline, including the Shetland and Orkney Islands
Harbour seal (_Phoca vitulina richardsi_):
- A subspecies of the common seal that is found in the Wadden Sea and the North Sea
- Slightly larger than the common seal, with males reaching a maximum length of 2 meters and a weight of 150 kilograms
- Females are slightly smaller, growing up to 1.7 meters long and weighing up to 100 kilograms
- Harbour seals have a darker coat than common seals, and their fur can be almost black in some cases
Atlantic grey seal (_Halichoerus grypus atlanticus_):
- A subspecies of the grey seal that is found in the Atlantic Ocean
- Slightly smaller than the grey seal, with males reaching a maximum length of 2.7 meters and a weight of 250 kilograms
- Females are smaller still, growing up to 2 meters long and weighing up to 120 kilograms
- Atlantic grey seals have a more silvery-grey fur than grey seals, and their heads are more rounded
Ringed seal (_Pusa hispida_):
- A small seal species that is found in the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic
- Males can grow up to 1.5 meters long and weigh up to 100 kilograms
- Females are slightly smaller, reaching a maximum length of 1.3 meters and a weight of 80 kilograms
- Ringed seals have a distinctively patterned coat with dark grey or brown rings on a light grey background
- They are found in the northernmost parts of the UK, including the Shetland and Orkney Islands