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Nov 28, 2023 · Although part of the otariid family along with sea lions, species such as northern fur seals and Guadalupe fur seals spend the vast majority of their lives at sea and are thought to be mostly solitary while at sea.
- Guadalupe Fur Seal. Arctocephalus townsendi. Males are about 7 feet (2.1 meters) long and weigh up to 400 lbs (181 kilograms).
- Northern Fur Seal. Callorhinus ursinus. Males are about 7 feet (2.1 meters) long and weigh up to 600 lbs (272 kilograms). They are dark brown to black overall.
- California Sea Lion. Zalophus californianus. Males are about 7.5 feet (2.2 meters) long and weigh up to 700 lbs (318 kilograms).
- Steller’s Sea Lion. Eumetopias jubatus. Males are about 11 feet (3.3 meters) long and weigh up to 2,500 lbs (1,134 kilograms).
Seals are part of the Phocidae family, also known as “true seals” or “earless seals”. On the other hand, sea lions belong to the Otariidae family, which includes “eared seals” and “fur seals”. These classifications hint at some of the key differences we’ll explore further.
Aug 12, 2024 · Seals and sea lions are both pinnipeds, but they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Learn how to recognize a seal vs. a sea lion. Seals and sea lions, along with walruses, belong to a group of marine mammals called “pinnipeds.”
Some species spend the majority of their life in the ocean—female northern elephant seals spend 66 percent of their time in the open ocean. Despite looking similar, seals and sea lions propel themselves through the water in different ways. For the sea lion, swimming is all about the front flippers.
Apr 21, 2022 · California sea lions are "eared seals" native to the West Coast of North America. They live in coastal waters and on beaches, docks, buoys, and jetties. Learn more about California sea lions.
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Are seals and sea lions the same?
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At sea, these seals move their rear flippers back and forth like a fish's tail to propel themselves through the water. Phocids include the harbor seal and Hawaiian monk seal. Otariids, also known as eared seals, include sea lions and fur seals such as the Steller sea lion and the northern fur seal. Unlike true seals, they have external ear flaps.
