Hooded seal

The bladder-nose seal, also known as the hooded seal, lives in the chilly waters of the North Atlantic. Its silvery-grey coat, dotted with black spots, helps it blend into the icy environment. Young pups have a striking blue-grey back, which they shed after about 14 months.

• Pups are called 'blue-backs' due to their blue-grey coats.
• They shed their blue-grey coat after 14 months.
• Found only in the central and western North Atlantic.