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External ear flaps
- Unlike true seals, sea lions and fur seals have external ear flaps; these animals are in the otariid family and are sometimes called “eared” seals.
Jun 16, 2024 · Sea lions (left) are brown, bark loudly, "walk" on land using their large flippers and have visible ear flaps. Seals have small flippers, wriggle on their bellies on land, and lack visible ear flaps.
- NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries serves as the...
- Is It a Seal or a Sea Lion? - NOAA Fisheries
Sea lions, such as the California sea lion and Steller sea...
- NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Nov 28, 2023 · Unlike true seals, sea lions and fur seals have external ear flaps; these animals are in the otariid family and are sometimes called “eared” seals. (Fun fact: Despite having the word “seal” in their name, fur seals are more closely related to sea lions than true seals!)
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.
- Seal and Sea Lion Classification
- Characteristics of Seals vs. Sea Lions
- Conservation Status
Both seals and sea lions are pinnipeds, or members of the order Pinnipedia, which are described as carnivorous, fin-footed, mostly marine (but technically semiaquatic) mammals. They share this order with walruses. Sea lions are technically seals but not true seals. That's because sea lions and fur seals have ears and true seals are earless. True (e...
You can tell a true seal from a sea lion from its lack of ear flap. Additionally, sea lions have much longer front flippers that help them assume an upright position while ashore. Rotating hind flippers allow sea lions to "walk" on land, whereas seals use their stubbier hind flippers only for swimming and their front flippers to move on land. If yo...
Of the six total species, three sea lions are endangered: Australian (population 6,500), Galápagos (population 9,200 to 10,600), and New Zealand sea lions (population 3,031), all of which have decreasing populations.The other three are near threatened (the Steller sea lion) or of least concern (California and South American sea lions) with stable o...
Aug 12, 2024 · Sea lions, such as the California sea lion and Steller sea lion, belong to a group of pinnipeds that have external ear flaps—giving them the nickname “eared seals.” This group also includes fur seals like the threatened Guadalupe fur seal.
Nov 24, 2017 · True seals are termed "earless" because they lack an external ear flap, whereas in "eared" seals or sea lions an external ear flap is visible. There are other, somewhat subtle, differences between the front flippers of the two groups, but the hind flipper differences are noticeable.
People also ask
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Sea lions and fur seals have external ears that protrude from their heads. Seals, on the other hand, have no external ear flap but instead have ear holes. This is why scientists refer to species in the family Otariidae as eared seals. Phocidae species can be called earless seals.