Atlantic Gray Seal vs beech marten

Halichoerus grypus compared with Martes foina

Key Differences

• Atlantic Gray Seal is Vulnerable while beech marten is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Atlantic Gray Seal	beech marten
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Halichoerus	Martes
Species	Halichoerus grypus	Martes foina

Evolutionary Relationship

Atlantic Gray Seal and beech marten share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Atlantic Gray Seal

VU — Vulnerable

beech marten

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Atlantic Gray Seal	beech marten
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Atlantic Gray Seal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

beech marten

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries).

Atlantic Gray Seal

The Atlantic Gray Seal (Halichoerus grypus) is a species in the genus Halichoerus. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

beech marten

beech marten (Martes foina) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden