Seal vs. Sea Lion
Main DifferenceSeal 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.
Difference Between Seal and Sea Lion
Seal vs. Sea Lion
Seal belongs to the family Phocidaeand has no external ear flaps, whereas Sea Lion belongs to the family Otariidae and has external ear flaps.
Seal vs. Sea Lion
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.
Seal vs. Sea Lion
Seals crawl on land like caterpillar, whereas Sea Lions can walk or even run on land.
Sealnoun
A pinniped (Pinnipedia), particularly an earless seal (true seal) or eared seal.
The seals in the harbor looked better than they smelled.Sealnoun
(heraldry) A bearing representing a creature something like a walrus.
Sealnoun
A stamp used to impress a design on a soft substance such as wax.
Sealnoun
An impression of such stamp on wax, paper or other material used for sealing.
Sealnoun
A design or insignia usually associated with an organization or an official role.
The front of the podium bore the presidential seal.Sealnoun
Anything that secures or authenticates.
Sealnoun
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.Sealnoun
Confirmation or an indication of confirmation.
Her clothes always had her mom's seal of approval.Sealnoun
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.Sealnoun
A tight closure, secure against leakage.
Close the lid tightly to get a good seal.Sealnoun
A chakra.
Sealverb
(intransitive) To hunt seals.
They're organizing a protest against sealing.Sealverb
(transitive) To place a seal on (a document).
Sealverb
To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality.
to seal weights and measures; to seal silverwareSealverb
(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.Sealverb
(transitive) To prevent people or vehicles from crossing (something).
The border has been sealed until the fugitives are found.Sealverb
(transitive) To close securely to prevent leakage.
I've sealed the bottle to keep the contents fresh.Sealverb
(transitive) To place in a sealed container.
I've sealed the documents in this envelope.Sealverb
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.Sealverb
(transitive) To guarantee.
The last-minute goal sealed United's win.Sealverb
To fix, as a piece of iron in a wall, with cement or plaster, etc.
Sealverb
To close by means of a seal.
to seal a drainpipe with waterSealverb
(Mormonism) To confirm or set apart as a second or additional wife.
Sealverb
(dialectal) To tie up animals (especially cattle) in their stalls.
Sealnoun
fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm; used for sealing documents and parcels and letters
Sealnoun
a device incised to make an impression; used to secure a closing or to authenticate documents
Sealnoun
the pelt or fur (especially the underfur) of a seal;
a coat of sealSealnoun
a member of a Naval Special Warfare unit who is trained for unconventional warfare;
SEAL is an acronym for Sea Air and LandSealnoun
a stamp affixed to a document (as to attest to its authenticity or to seal it);
the warrant bore the sheriff's sealSealnoun
an indication of approved or superior status
Sealnoun
a finishing coat applied to exclude moisture
Sealnoun
fastener that provides a tight and perfect closure
Sealnoun
any of numerous marine mammals that come on shore to breed; chiefly of cold regions
Sealverb
close with or as if with a seal;
She sealed the letter with hot waxSealverb
make tight; secure against leakage;
seal the windowsSealverb
decide irrevocably;
sealing doomsSealverb
affix a seal to;
seal the letterSealverb
cover with varnish
Sealverb
hunt seals
Comparison Chart
| Seal | Sea Lion |
| 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. |
| Movement on Land | |
| Seals crawl on land like caterpillar. | Sea Lions can walk or even run on land. |
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.
