Seals Vs. Sea Lions

You enjoy seeing them at the zoo and the aquarium, and they are a favorite in live animals shows because of their notable personalities, but seals and sea lions are different species of animal. They look similar, and from afar they are difficult to tell apart. Both seals and sea lions are members of the scientific order Pinnipedia. Both are finned ocean mammals that spend some time on land and time in the ocean.

  1. Heads

    • The easiest way to tell seals from sea lions is by looking at their heads. Sea lions have small external ear flaps that resemble miniature cat ears. Seals do not have this flap and instead have small ear holes on either side of their heads. Because of this missing flap, the seal moves more smoothly through the water than his sea lion cousin. Sea lions also have long, straight whiskers, while seals tend to have crumpled, bearded whiskers.

    Fins

    • While both animals are fin-footed and travel between land and sea, the sea lion is better adapted for life on land, while the seal flourishes in the ocean. The key difference here is in their fins. Sea lions have long, flexible, hairless fins designed to support their weight on land. Their fins can rotate under them and allow them to sit upright and "walk" on land. A seal's flippers are small and hairy, with one small claw on each tow. Seals have trouble moving smoothly on land and have to inch along like caterpillar or snake.

    Agility

    • In the water, seals are quick and agile. Because their front flippers are small, they utilize their strong back flippers to propel themselves through the water. They flow side to side like fish and use their front flippers to steer and change direction. This dependence on rear power puts seals at a disadvantage when it comes to outracing predators. Orcas and sharks, the seal's natural predators, generally attack from behind. If they manage to injure a seal's hind legs, that seal would be defenseless.

      Sea lions swim in a straight line, pushing with their large front flippers. To steer, they simply point their heads and tilt their bodies in the direction they want to go. Sea lions share the same predators as seals, but because they use their front flippers to push them forward, they are more likely to escape an attack.

    Weight

    • Seals tend to be rather round and can have an almost chubby appearance. The largest seals can weigh up to 400 pounds. Sea lions look sleeker, but tend to be larger than seals. Sea lions can grow to as large as 600 pounds at times.

    Behavior

    • Sea lions are more social than seals and tend to be vocal. They are noted for having a loud, almost barking sound. The noise seals make is almost like a low grunt. You are more likely to see a sea lion than a seal, as they tend to hang around docks and harbors looking for handouts. Sea lions are especially common along the northern California coastline.