{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "grey-seal",
  "name": "Grey Seal",
  "scientificName": "Halichoerus grypus",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) is a large North Atlantic seal named for its long, horse-like muzzle. It swims after fish, squid, and crustaceans along rocky coasts, islands, and ice edges, and a big bull can weigh up to 230 kg. Powerful swimmers, grey seals reach about 24 km/h in the water and can live 25 to 35 years. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Phocidae",
    "genus": "Halichoerus"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 230,
    "lengthM": 2.3,
    "topSpeedKmh": 24,
    "lifespanYears": 35
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Halichoerus grypus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore — fish, squid, and crustaceans"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "North Atlantic coasts, islands, and ice edges"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "25–35 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "100–230 kg (220–510 lb); males larger"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 24 km/h (15 mph) swimming"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "North Atlantic coasts — Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, eastern Canada, and New England; half the world population breeds in the UK.",
    "continents": [
      "Europe",
      "North America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Halichoerus grypus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Halichoerus%20grypus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Halichoerus grypus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Halichoerus_grypus/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/grey-seal/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/grey-seal/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}