The Common , or Harbour seal, as it is also known, is mainly an inshore animal, frequenting inlets, estuaries and unpolluted harbours. This seal is less numerous than the Grey seal over much of the western and northern coastlines. Population: 2003 estimate seal census 2,900 in Ireland The Common , or Harbour seal, as it is also known, is mainly an inshore animal, frequenting inlets, estuaries and unpolluted harbours. This seal is less numerous than the Grey seal over much of the western and northern coastlines. It is the smaller of the two Irish seal species. Females are smaller than males. Bulls may reach 6ft (2m) long and weigh 550lb (250kg. Females reach 5ft and weigh 330lb (150kg). Pups are born on land but can swim straight away. Coat colour is variable but usually some shade of grey or white with darker spots. . The adult has predominantly greyish to greyish-brown upper parts, with irregular black mottling. This mottling is repeated on the underside, which is lighter, silver or cream. The young have a darker, greyish brown mottled coat. The common seal favours shallow, sheltered coastal waters and estuaries. It can dive for up to 10 minutes and eats a wide variety of inshore and estuarine fish species.
