GREY SEAL
Halichoerus grypus 
   
PAGE INDEX
1. Lateral view
2. Anterior view
3. Dorsal view
4. Skull of pup
5. Details
The Grey Seal has a high nasal cavity, giving a distinctive shape to the head. The extravolume is required for a "rhinarium", a cavity external to the nostrils, which may allow them tosmell underwater.
1. Grey Seal skull, aged female, lateral view.

Teeth very worn, canine rooteroded by infection.

2. Grey Seal skull, anterior view. Note high nasal cavity, giving distinctiveshape to the head.
3. Grey Seal skull, dorsal view.
4. Grey Seal pup skull, lateral view.

Details of Specimens Illustrated

Image 1,2,3
Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus
Sex - female
Stage - adult (aged)
Date collected - April 1997
Area collected - Northumberland coast
Collection ref. - 97.009
Source - Found dead on beach near breeding colony.
Measurements
Condylobasal length258mm Zygomatic width150mm
Jaw length (to angle)132mm

Image 4
Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus
Stage - immature (pup)
Date collected - March 1997
Area collected - Northumberland coast
Collection ref. - 97.007
Source - Found dead on beach near breeding colony.
Measurements
Condylobasal length172mm Zygomatic width97mm
Jaw length (to angle)91mm

Latin Name : Halichoerus "sea pig", from the Greek words halios"the sea" and khoiros "a pig". xgrypus - Greek for "hook nosed".

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