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Other

Harbour seal

Phoca vitulina

Smaller and daintier than the grey seal, with a short rounded 'button' muzzle, a concave forehead profile, and V-shaped nostrils that meet at the bottom. Coat is finely speckled with small dark spots rather than blotches. Often hauls out on sandbanks and rocks at low tide in a curved 'banana' pose, and is more likely to be seen in estuaries and harbours than the grey seal.

Usually seen at

0-1 m (median 1 m)

Size

Large (over 50 cm)

Habitat

Rocky crevice, Sandy bottom, Near surface

Behaviour

Solitary

Where it's seen

Occurrence records around the UK & north-east Atlantic (OBIS). The ringed marker is the PEBL filming site.

55°N50°N10°W0°E
fewermore records PEBL site

Reference photos

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