Head to head
Harp Seal vs California Sea Lion
Seals and sea lions are both pinnipeds — "fin-footed" marine carnivores — but they belong to different families. True (earless) seals are the Phocidae; sea lions and fur seals are the Otariidae, or eared seals. A few features separate them at a glance.
| Harp Seal | California Sea Lion | |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Phocidae — true or "earless" seals | Otariidae — "eared" seals (with fur seals) |
| Ears | A small hole, no flap | Small external ear flaps |
| On land | Wriggles on its belly; hind flippers drag | Walks and even gallops on all four flippers |
| Swimming power | Side-to-side sweeps of the hind flippers | Powerful "rowing" strokes of the front flippers |
| Front flippers | Short, furred, clawed | Long, bare, wing-like |
| Behaviour | More solitary, quiet | Highly social, loud barking colonies |
| Trained "seals" in shows | Rarely — hard to move on land | Usually sea lions — agile and trainable |
| Neck | Short, not very flexible | Long, flexible; can lift the chest up high |
Seal vs Sea Lion: common questions
How do you tell a seal from a sea lion?
Two quick checks. Ears: sea lions have small flaps sticking out; true seals have only a hole. Movement on land: a sea lion tucks its hind flippers under its body and walks on all fours, while a true seal cannot do this and instead flops and wriggles forward on its belly. Sea lions are also much louder and more social.
Which is bigger, a seal or a sea lion?
It depends on the species. The largest true seals — elephant seals — are far bigger than any sea lion, with males over 3 tonnes. But comparing typical species, a California sea lion male (up to ~390 kg) outweighs a harbour or harp seal.
Are the "seals" at aquariums actually seals?
Usually they are California sea lions. Their ability to walk on their flippers, balance, and follow cues, plus their sociability, makes them far easier to train and display than true seals.