Common seal

Vibrations in the water it feels with its whiskers. This is how it recognizes food and danger.

Discover in real life
Common seal

  • Habitat

    in North Atlantic and Pacific Ocean

  • Food

    fish, shellfish and squid

  • Lifetime

    30 to 40 years

  • Weight

    60 to 170 pounds

  • Length

    160 to 190 cm

  • Number of youngsters

    1

  • Wear time

    10.5 months

  • IUCN status

    safe

  • EEP?

    no

35

minutes, that's how long a seal can stay underwater

10,5

months, that's about how long a seal is pregnant

40

years, which is how old a seal gets at most

Long food trips

When seals search for food, they travel up to 50 kilometers. The search involves frequent dives, during which the seal can easily stay underwater for 10 to 30 minutes.

Fattening milk

After 10.5 months of gestation, one young is born. The extra fat mother's milk causes the pup to be twice its weight at birth after only four weeks. Soon after, mother leaves the cub and it is on its own.