or simply, what's the difference between them?
2007-05-21 03:32:36 · 10 answers · asked by queenie_lo 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
First you must define what is a seal and what is a sea lion. It makes it possible to describe the differences, but also complicates the matter.
They comprise the mammalian Suborder Pinnipedia of the Order Carnivora. There are three families of Pinnipeds:
Phocidae are the "true seals". Their are earless and mostly hairless, requiring blubber for insular ion. The navigate on land on the bellies, using a vertical undulating motion called "galluphing".
Otariidae is characterised by members with external ear flaps, fur, and the ability to walkin on all fours on land. Included are the subfamily Arctocephalinae, the fur seals, and the subfamily Otariinae, the sea lions.
Odobenidae comprises only the Walrus.
While the difference between sea lions and phocid seals is evident (by they means of terrestrial locomotion), but distinguishing them from fur seals is more difficult. The difference is taxonomical, rather than something easily done by a spotter, though they would be able to point out species anyway. Sea lions are known for having a rounder snout and shorter, coarser hair than fur seals. Fur seals have comparatively longer flippers.
These are physical features used to identify species, and closely related genera of Otariidae have been grouped into two subfamilies, one of which is commonly known as sea lions. But fur seals are just as different from true seals, and very similar to sea lions.
2007-05-21 03:55:39 · answer #1 · answered by Bullet Magnet 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The difference between a seal and a seal lion is that one lacks external ears also seal lions have a long snout, a separted hind fins and sharper teeth. In addition, seal lions will most usually live in warmer waters around the coast while seals will live in the colder artic waters.
2007-05-21 21:45:50 · answer #2 · answered by Hydropower 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A sea lion is 2-3x as big as a seal, and they (especially the males) have a big bump on the top of their head. Sea Lions tend to "stand" in an "L" shape, while seals are smaller, torpedo-shaped bodies, and lay closer to the ground.
2007-05-21 10:43:28 · answer #3 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The most noticeable difference is that a sea lion has visible ears, while a seal does not.
2007-05-21 10:38:10 · answer #4 · answered by miyuki & kyojin 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In general, seals are smaller than sea lions
2007-05-21 10:40:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
" In general, seals are smaller than sea lions "
That depends entirely on the species of seal. Most sealions and fur seals, the eared seals, are much the same size although I think Hooker's sealion is bigger than average. Seals range in size from smaller than sealions to big seals like the weddel seal, the leopard seal and the crabeater seal to the two species of elephant seals which are huge. In general, the southern hemisphere seals are larger than the northern hemisphere seals and only the Ross seal would be smaller than sealions.
2007-05-21 18:06:35 · answer #6 · answered by tentofield 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
True seals have no ears and they have rear legs fused together into flukes. Fur seals and sea lions both have rear and front legs separate from each other and walk on their flippers, and they have ears
2014-07-03 15:12:51 · answer #7 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A sea lion has external ears.
2007-05-21 10:36:14 · answer #8 · answered by fieldworking 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
......the name. one has lion with it and the other don't
2007-05-21 10:41:31 · answer #9 · answered by eric 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
one has ears (seal?)the other doesn't.
2007-05-21 11:47:07 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋