Why the long face?

I’d like to know why Grey Seals have a long sloping head.

What’s the evolutionary advantage? What’s the adaptation for? What does it do to the flow of water over their faces and bodies? Does the effect change at different speeds through the water? Is it because of hydrodynamics or is it just the external effect of having a big nose internally to help their breathing? I’ve yet to find any research which would answer my questions.

They’re fascinating animals to get close to. If you’d like to get close to a Grey Seal, maybe even pet one, please remember that they are as ‘friendly’ as bears. You’re likely to have a bitesize piece of your anatomy removed.

I use the example of bears advisedly. Seals are somewhere closer to dogs than cats in the evolutionary tree of carnivores, and placed near weasels, bears and raccoons. Mermaids they aren’t.

Except in my imagination.