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Nov 28, 2023 · What’s the difference between seals and sea lions? Learn about physical and behavioral differences as well as how our hospital cares for seals vs. sea lions.
Sea lions and fur seals (seals with thick fur that are more similar to sea lions than to true seals) are lumped together in the family Otariidae. True seals, on the other hand, are in the family Phocidae.
- Cydney Grannan
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.
Aug 12, 2024 · Learn how to recognize a seal vs. a sea lion. Seals and sea lions are both pinnipeds, but they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Seals and sea lions, along with walruses, belong to a group of marine mammals called “pinnipeds.”
Nov 24, 2017 · This causes differences between the two in locomotion when on land: seals move forward by caterpillar-like hitching movements; sea lions use their hind legs to walk or even gallop across land. Fur seals, actually in the sea lion group, having extremely long hind flippers.
Oct 26, 2023 · The eared-seal family includes 6 species of sea lions and 10 species of fur seals. There are other differences between true seals and sea lions. On land, seals can’t walk, and must undulate on their bellies, whereas sea lions use their large front and back flippers to “walk”.
Sep 27, 2024 · Basically, fur seals and sea lions are distinguished from true seals by body shape and social behavior. But fur seals are further distinguished from sea lions by the presence of a thick layer of fur (not just hairless blubber) to protect them from the cold water.
