.site-alert-indicator .site-alert-indicator__message {text-align: center; color:black} The northern fur seals at the Aquarium generally have a darker color to their fur than the sea lions. They have an • While swimming, the movement is powered by hind limbs in seals, but sea lions generate the moving force from the fore limbs. Sea lions do have external ear flaps – you can see it on the side of the head in both of the pictures below as well as other morphological similarities between sea lions: Northern fur seals also inhabit Togiak Refuge shorelines, but are rare. IF THIS IS YOU, THEN YOU'D MAKE A GREAT CALIFORNIA SEA LION! The place should be smooth and sandy and protected from large waves. Sea lions are the opposite, using their foreflippers for power and their back flippers for steering. Enjoy fabulous, family-friendly, live entertainment at SeaWorld. This does not help the already confused general public distinguish between seals and sea lions. The sea floor leading up to it should be sloped to make it easy to come ashore. Replies. Whisper, a 20-year-old beluga whale at the Georgia Aquarium gave birth to a calf on Sunday, May 17. Sea lions, on the other hand, are able to “walk” on land by rotating their hind flippers forward and underneath their big bodies. Both seals and sea lions, together with the walrus, are pinnipeds, which means “fin-footed” in Latin. (Walruses are in the family Odobenidae, but their large tusks make them easy to … They are mammals, which means that they have live young, produce milk, have hair (or fur) on their bodies, and breathe air. Sometimes this results in their nickname of “eared seals.” But the “true seal” —those other than the fur seal—do not possess such flaps, but instead have a simple ear hole. Experience thrilling coasters and extraordinary rides for the whole family. The only thing to tell them apart is, the fur seal has a comparatively shorter face and softer fur; and male sea lions have mane hair on their necks, like the real lions in Africa. In honor of National Whale Day, we learned more about these adorable guys from the team who knows them best – their Animal Care Specialists! The breakdown of these families looks something like this: Review Important Safety Guidelines. Seals and sea-lions, together with the walrus, are in the group of animals called pinnipeds. In the La Jolla area, the harbor seals live at Casa Beach, while the sea lions live about a half mile north at the Cove. Harbor seals . Eat and drink all day as often as once every hour for one low price. Although they feed in the sea, they surface for air. Another seal that many people think of is the leopard seal. While seals and sea lions have much in common, there are many notable differences: Please use the drop down menu below to view page in a different language. Seals … True seals, on the other hand, are in the family Phocidae. SeaWorld Orlando, 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, FL 32821. This makes them fast and graceful in the water; however they can only move on land by wiggling awkwardly on their belly. The hind flippers of seals angle backward and don’t rotate. The sea lion has a visual external pinnae that looks more like a tiny dog ear. Sea Lions are another aquatic mammal that belongs to the category Pinnipedia. Seals vs. Sea Lions - What's the Difference? Seals have small flippers, wriggle on their bellies on land, and … Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all fours, short, thick hair, and a big chest and belly. Pinnipeds are further distributed into the Odobenidae family, which is the walrus; the Otariidae family, which includes eared seals, sea lions, and fur seals; and the Phocidae family, which is the earless seals. The Galapagos sea lion takes the scientific name of Zalophus wollebaeki, and is a more direct relative of the California sea lion. Sea Lion and another mammal called fur seals belong to the Otariidae family, which is known as eared seals. The term "seal" is often used to refer to both seals and sea lions, but there are several characteristics that set seals and sea lions apart. Seals vs. sea lions is a difficult topic to grasp, but this article aims to clearly illuminate the difference between these two aquatic beasts. Seals and sea lions share adaptations for living in the sea—including blubber, flippers, and streamlined bodies. Seals are quiet, vocalizing only via soft grunts, while sea lions are quite noisy – they bark a lot. Oliver and Grayson are our beluga whales who live at Wild Arctic. [CDATA[ • Sea lions have long and smooth whiskers, whereas those are … They are both members of the order Pinnipedia, which means “feather footed.” Pinnipeds have a substantial system of nerves in their upper lips and … [Download a PDF file about the differences between harbor seals and sea lions]. It is here that most similarities end, but while the species are different, it can be tough to tell the seal (particularly the fur seal) and the sea lion apart at first glance. They are really a type of sea lion. Oddly enough fur seals are not seals at all. They are warm-blooded marine mammals that could live both in water and on land. Sea lions and true seals are sometimes referred to as just “seals,” but there is a genuine difference between them. Below you can learn about the differences that set seals and sea lions. Their hearing and eyesight are adapted for underwater and their acute sense of smell helps females to identify their pups. Both sea lions and fur seals belong to the family of Otariidae, eared seals, considered distinct from ‘true seals’ which do not have external ears. The average weight of a female harbor seal is about 200 pounds and they are about 5 feet long, while a female sea lion weighs on average 225 pounds and is 6 feet long. Seals are smaller than sea lions; male Stellar sea lions can grow to be up to 2,200 pounds. Seals have spotted coats in a variety of shades from white or silver-gray to black or dark brown, while sea lions are brown — their color ranges from chocolate brown in males to a lighter, golden brown in females. Places that meet all these co… Find your way to rides, theaters, restaurants, shops and interactive exhibits with the park map. Jessica loves all animals, whether they fly, swim or crawl she has a passion to learn more about them and how to protect them. Here comes the trouble: the fur seal is a kind of sea lion! Seals (true seals or earless seals) have no external ear flaps. Reply Delete. Both the fur seal and the sea lion possess small flaps on the outside of their ears. When in doubt, here’s an easy guide to tell California sea lions apart from harbor seals: Now that you know more about the difference between these two marine animals, find out which one you might be: GUESS WHAT? Buy an Annual Pass and enjoy 12 months admission, NOW with our BEST benefits EVER! Firstly, seals and sea lions have completely different ears. Sea lions and fur seals bear their young on land. The average weight of a male harbor seal is about 300 pounds and they are about 6 feet long, while a male California sea lion weighs on average 700-800 pounds and is 7-8 feet long. Sea otters are smaller than seals and sea lions, have stubby front paws and rest by floating on their back. Rotate their hind flippers under their bodies, enabling them to walk or even run on land. Seals also are suited to spend more time in the water than sea lions, which can "walk" on shore with their large flippers and spend time in large social groups. Finding a good place to give birth and raise young is not so easy. They Don’t Just Eat Fish. When they are wet, fur seals look black, while the sea lions look brown. // . In Alaska we have a number of seal species including harbor seals, bearded seals, ribbon seals, ringed seals, and … When swimming, seals use their back flippers for power and their front flippers for steering. • Sea lions are more land adapted while seals are more adapted to the aquatic habitat. 3. TM/© 2021 Sesame Workshop. Sea lions in the wild may live up to 25 years. What is the difference between sea lions & seals? Their range extends from the subarctic to tropical waters of the global ocean in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with the notable exception of the northern Atlantic Ocean. Sea lions have external ear flaps—seals do not. Quiet and shy, harbor seals can be seen year-round resting on rocks just offshore. In this article, we have used the term seals to refer to true seals. They are both members of the order Pinnipedia, which means “feather footed.” Pinnipeds have a substantial system of nerves in their upper lips and use thick whiskers called vibrissae to find food. When dry, the fur seals lounging on the deck at the marine mammal center look more brown, and their sea lion neighbors will look a golden brown or blonde color. Get the admission that is right for you with a Single-Day or Multi-Day Ticket. Sea lions and fur seals (members of the eared seal family) have visible ear flaps, while true seals only have ear holes. Eared Seals (Otariidae) Marine mammals spend all or the majority of their time in water, and thus are specially adapted to this way of life. And it looks pretty much like the sea lion with visible ears and all other characteristics. Seals, sea lions, and walruses are all in the order Carnivora and suborder Pinnipedia, thus they are called “pinnipeds.” Unlimited Admission to SeaWorld and Aquatica, Meet our Beluga Whales in honor of National Whale Day, Generally more social, living in larger groups, Paddlelike hind flippers can be rotated forward to move across land more easily, Cannot rotate hind flippers under body, so instead they drag themselves across land, No visible earflaps, just a small pinhole openings behind the eyes for the ears. Sea lions are the opposite, using their foreflippers for power and their back flippers for steering. Seals are less social than their gregarious sea-lion cousins. Both types of seals, sea lions and walruses are all considered to be in the suborder Pinnipedia, which is usually translated as \"fin-footed\" or \"feather-footed.\" Pinnipeds (within the order Carnivora) consist of three families. Sea lions (left) are brown, bark loudly, "walk" on land using their large flippers and have visible ear flaps. Eared seals include both sea lions and fur seals due to the presence of small external ears, which make them different from true seals. Pinnipeds are classified under three families, eared seals, true seals and walruses. On Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 9 - 17, meet the SeaWorld team and hear their personal stories about caring for our animals. The admission that is right for YOU with a Single-Day or Multi-Day Ticket,... And is a genuine difference between them underwater and their back flippers for power and back... Rights Reserved one quick way to rides, theaters, restaurants, shops and interactive exhibits with park... To look at its ears rides, theaters, restaurants, shops interactive., shops and interactive exhibits with the park refer to true seals are more land while... Stories about caring for our animals - what 's the difference between sea lions in the Wild.! 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