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27 December 2009
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Scotland The Wild

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Wildlife Map Mammals Mammal
Scotland boasts the largest concentration of grey seals in the world.

   
Latin Name: Halichoerus grypus

Gaelic Name:
Ròn glas.
 

Statistics: Male: length 210cm, weight 230kg. Female: height 180cm, weight 155kg.

Physical Description: Male grey seals are much larger than the females, and have broad shoulders, an elongated snout and a heavy muzzle. The females have a thinner snout and a less rounded profile. They vary in colour from dark brown to grey or black with blotches, and females tend to be paler than the males.
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Scottish Distribution: Main breeding sites are in the Monarch Isles, North Rona, Treshnish Isle and Isle of May.

Habitat: Grey seals come ashore to breed on exposed rocky shores.

Diet: Mainly fish, but will also, on rare occasions, take cephalopods (squid and octopus) and crustaceans.


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