Difference Wiki

Seal vs. Sea Lion

Seal and Sea Lion are both the semi-aquatic mammals which are commonly known as pinnipeds. The word ‘pinnepeds’ is derived from Classical Latin words ‘pinnapes, pinnipes’, which means ‘winged feet’. As mentioned above they are semi aquatic animals, their special types of fins helps them live both on land and water. Seals are the most prominent of pinnepids, and the others to follow are Sea Lions and Walruses. Pinnipeds are further grouped into three families: Odobenidae, Otariidae, and Phocidae. Odobenidae is a family of pinnipeds, whose only living specie is the Walrus. Previoulsy the group possessed diverse species but they extinct. Otariidae is the family of pinnipeds that is commonly known as eared seal and it mainly has animals like Sea Lion and Fur Seals which are mainly characterized by external ear flaps. Phocidae is the family of pinnipeds that is referred as earless seals or true seals. With the given information above we can easily differentiate it between Seal and Sea Lion as Seal belongs to the family Phocidaeand has no external ear flaps, whereas Sea Lion belongs to the family Otariidae and has external ear flaps.

Key Differences

Seals use back flippers for power while swimming and use the front flippers for the steering purpose when swimming, whereas Sea Lion use front flippers for power while swimming and use the black flippers for steering while swimming.
Seals crawl on land like caterpillar, whereas Sea Lions can walk or even run on land.
Seal belongs to the family Phocidaeand has no external ear flaps, whereas Sea Lion belongs to the family Otariidae and has external ear flaps.

Comparison Chart

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Seal belongs to the family Phocidae.
Sea Lion belongs to the family Otariidae

External Ear Flaps

Lack external ear flips.
Have external ear flips

Use of Flippers for Swimming

Seals use back flippers for power while swimming and use the front flippers for the steering purpose when swimming.
Sea Lion use front flippers for power while swimming and use the black flippers for steering while swimming.
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Movement on Land

Seals crawl on land like caterpillar.
Sea Lions can walk or even run on land.
Aimie Carlson
Dec 01, 2016

Seal and Sea Lion Definitions

Seal

A device or material that is used to close off or fasten an opening or connection, especially to prevent the escape of a liquid or gas
Used caulk as a seal around the window.

Seal

An airtight closure
A door that lacks a tight seal.

Seal

Something, such as a piece of tape, that is placed on a product or package to show that the contents have not been tampered with.

Seal

The water in the trap of a drain that prevents sewer gas from escaping into a room.

Seal

A design used to identify a person or thing or to show that something is authentic, accurate, or of good quality
The title page is marked with the publisher's seal. Does the scale have the inspector's seal?.
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Seal

A small decorative paper sticker.

Seal

A die or signet having a raised or incised emblem used to stamp an impression on a receptive substance such as wax or lead.

Seal

The impression so made.

Seal

The design or emblem itself, belonging exclusively to the user
A monarch's seal.

Seal

A small disk or wafer of wax, lead, or paper bearing such an imprint and affixed to a document to prove authenticity or to secure it.

Seal

An indication or symbol regarded as guaranteeing or authenticating something
The choral director gave the program his seal of approval.
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Seal

Any of various aquatic carnivorous mammals of the families Phocidae and Otariidae, found chiefly in cold regions and having a sleek torpedo-shaped body and limbs that are modified into paddlelike flippers.

Seal

The pelt or fur of one of these animals, especially a fur seal.

Seal

Leather made from the hide of one of these animals.

Seal

To close or fasten with a seal
Seal an envelope.
Seal a test tube.

Seal

To prevent (a liquid or gas) from escaping
Charring a piece of meat seals in the juices.

Seal

To cover, secure, or fill up (an opening)
Sealed the hole in the pipe with epoxy.

Seal

To apply a waterproof coating to
Seal a blacktop driveway.

Seal

To secure or prevent passage into and out of (an area). Often used with off
The police sealed off the crime scene.

Seal

To affix a seal to (something) in order to prove authenticity, accuracy, or quality.

Seal

To establish or determine irrevocably
Our fate was sealed.

Seal

Mormon Church To make (a marriage, for example) eternally binding; solemnize forever.

Seal

To hunt seals.

Seal

A pinniped (Pinnipedia), particularly an earless seal (true seal) or eared seal.
The seals in the harbor looked better than they smelled.

Seal

(heraldry) A bearing representing a creature something like a walrus.

Seal

A stamp used to impress a design on a soft substance such as wax.

Seal

An impression of such stamp on wax, paper or other material used for sealing.

Seal

A design or insignia usually associated with an organization or an official role.
The front of the podium bore the presidential seal.

Seal

Anything that secures or authenticates.

Seal

Something which will be visibly damaged if a covering or container is opened, and which may or may not bear an official design.
The result was declared invalid, as the seal on the meter had been broken.

Seal

(figurative) Confirmation or approval, or an indication of this.
Her clothes always had her mom's seal of approval.

Seal

Something designed to prevent liquids or gases from leaking through a joint.
The canister is leaking. I think the main seal needs to be replaced.

Seal

A tight closure, secure against leakage.
Close the lid tightly to get a good seal.

Seal

A chakra. en

Seal

(intransitive) To hunt seals.
They're organizing a protest against sealing.

Seal

(transitive) To place a seal on (a document).

Seal

To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality.
To seal weights and measures
To seal silverware

Seal

(transitive) To fasten (something) so that it cannot be opened without visible damage.
The cover is sealed. If anyone tries to open it, we'll know about it.

Seal

(transitive) To prevent people or vehicles from crossing (something).
The border has been sealed until the fugitives are found.

Seal

(transitive) To close securely to prevent leakage.
I've sealed the bottle to keep the contents fresh.

Seal

(transitive) To place in a sealed container.
I've sealed the documents in this envelope.

Seal

To place a notation of one's next move in a sealed envelope to be opened after an adjournment.
After thinking for half an hour, the champion sealed his move.

Seal

(transitive) To guarantee.
The last-minute goal sealed United’s win.

Seal

To fix, as a piece of iron in a wall, with cement or plaster, etc.

Seal

To close by means of a seal.
To seal a drainpipe with water

Seal

(Mormonism) To confirm or set apart as a second or additional wife.

Seal

(Christianity) To form a sacred commitment.

Seal

To fry (meat) at a high temperature to retain the juices.

Seal

(dialectal) To tie up animals (especially cattle) in their stalls.

Seal

Any aquatic carnivorous mammal of the families Phocidæ and Otariidæ.

Seal

An engraved or inscribed stamp, used for marking an impression in wax or other soft substance, to be attached to a document, or otherwise used by way of authentication or security.

Seal

Wax, wafer, or other tenacious substance, set to an instrument, and impressed or stamped with a seal; as, to give a deed under hand and seal.
Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bondThou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud.

Seal

That which seals or fastens; esp., the wax or wafer placed on a letter or other closed paper, etc., to fasten it.

Seal

That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; that which authenticates; that which secures; assurance.
Like a red seal is the setting sunOn the good and the evil men have done.

Seal

An arrangement for preventing the entrance or return of gas or air into a pipe, by which the open end of the pipe dips beneath the surface of water or other liquid, or a deep bend or sag in the pipe is filled with the liquid; a draintrap.

Seal

To set or affix a seal to; hence, to authenticate; to confirm; to ratify; to establish; as, to seal a deed.
And with my hand I seal my true heart's love.

Seal

To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality; as, to seal weights and measures; to seal silverware.

Seal

To fasten with a seal; to attach together with a wafer, wax, or other substance causing adhesion; as, to seal a letter.

Seal

Hence, to shut close; to keep close; to make fast; to keep secure or secret.
Seal up your lips, and give no words but "mum".

Seal

To fix, as a piece of iron in a wall, with cement, plaster, or the like.

Seal

To close by means of a seal; as, to seal a drainpipe with water. See 2d Seal, 5.

Seal

Among the Mormons, to confirm or set apart as a second or additional wife.
If a man once married desires a second helpmate . . . she is sealed to him under the solemn sanction of the church.

Seal

To affix one's seal, or a seal.
I will seal unto this bond.

Seal

Fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm; used for sealing documents and parcels and letters

Seal

A device incised to make an impression; used to secure a closing or to authenticate documents

Seal

The pelt or fur (especially the underfur) of a seal;
A coat of seal

Seal

A member of a Naval Special Warfare unit who is trained for unconventional warfare;
SEAL is an acronym for Sea Air and Land

Seal

A stamp affixed to a document (as to attest to its authenticity or to seal it);
The warrant bore the sheriff's seal

Seal

An indication of approved or superior status

Seal

A finishing coat applied to exclude moisture

Seal

Fastener that provides a tight and perfect closure

Seal

Any of numerous marine mammals that come on shore to breed; chiefly of cold regions

Seal

Close with or as if with a seal;
She sealed the letter with hot wax

Seal

Make tight; secure against leakage;
Seal the windows

Seal

Decide irrevocably;
Sealing dooms

Seal

Affix a seal to;
Seal the letter

Seal

Cover with varnish

Seal

Hunt seals

What is Seal?

Seal is the semi-aquatic mammal that hails from phocidae family and lacks external flaps. They are refereed as earless or true seals. The other seal we know as in the pinnipeds group is fur seal, which belongs to the family Otariidae and has external ear flaps. The Seal here being referred is the true seal belonging to phocidae family and it is characterized as due to lack of the external ear flaps. Seals use back flippers while swimming and use the front flippers for the steering purpose when swimming. As they can’t rotate their back flippers they use front flippers to make the movement on land which is generally a caterpillar like movement. Seals have spot and patches on their body which is another of their physical feature differentiating it with other look-alike aquatic animal apart from lacking external ear flaps and having claws and fur on front flippers which help them move on land.

What is Sea Lion?

Seal Lion is the semi-aquatic mammal that hails from Otariidae, which is the family of pinnipeds that is commonly known as eared seal. One of the famous type of seals, fur seals also belongs to the similar group as of the sea lion as it has external ear flaps. Unlike Seals, their rear flippers can also rotate and with them they can even walk or run on the land. That is also one of the reason over which they are preferred over seals for making them participate in circus or other such events. They have large front flippers as compare to the Seals, though they lack claws or fur on it.

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