This is a Grey seal Halichoerus grypus. The close-up photos show the dentition in superb detail. The animal is lying on its left side. The upper right canine is missing, as are the outer two upper right incisors. Some post-canine (cheek) teeth may be missing too, particularly the lower right first post-canine. From the wear on the teeth I'd say this is an older animal but I wouldn't like to say how old. It would be necessary to take a cross-section of a tooth and count growth rings, although this isn't always reliable and each ring may not represent a calendar year.
Toothed whales and dolphins do not have differentiated teeth; they are all a similar shape. British seals have incisors, canines, premolars and molars. However premolars and molars have the same shape so they are just called post-canine or cheek teeth. In Common (aka Harbour) seals Phoca vitulina each cheek tooth has three pointed cusps although the outer two cusps may be reduced. Grey seal cheek teeth have a single pointed cusp, i.e. each cheek tooth looks like a miniature version of a canine tooth.
These teeth have evolved to catch and hold fish prior to swallowing them whole. If the fish is too big the seal surfaces and shakes it's head to dismantle the fish into smaller pieces. Or the fish is held in the front flipper claws and and chunks torn off by the teeth and swallowed. Cheek teeth in seals are not designed for chewing. Land predators such as domestic dogs have carnassial cheek teeth which are narrow and serrated, perfect for slicing through flesh.
This is a Grey seal Halichoerus grypus. The close-up photos show the dentition in superb detail. The animal is lying on its left side. The upper right canine is missing, as are the outer two upper right incisors. Some post-canine (cheek) teeth may be missing too, particularly the lower right first post-canine. From the wear on the teeth I'd say this is an older animal but I wouldn't like to say how old. It would be necessary to take a cross-section of a tooth and count growth rings, although this isn't always reliable and each ring may not represent a calendar year.
Toothed whales and dolphins do not have differentiated teeth; they are all a similar shape. British seals have incisors, canines, premolars and molars. However premolars and molars have the same shape so they are just called post-canine or cheek teeth. In Common (aka Harbour) seals Phoca vitulina each cheek tooth has three pointed cusps although the outer two cusps may be reduced. Grey seal cheek teeth have a single pointed cusp, i.e. each cheek tooth looks like a miniature version of a canine tooth.
These teeth have evolved to catch and hold fish prior to swallowing them whole. If the fish is too big the seal surfaces and shakes it's head to dismantle the fish into smaller pieces. Or the fish is held in the front flipper claws and and chunks torn off by the teeth and swallowed. Cheek teeth in seals are not designed for chewing. Land predators such as domestic dogs have carnassial cheek teeth which are narrow and serrated, perfect for slicing through flesh.
Thanks for your considered thoughts John!