My previous post on seals brought us a question by email about the difference between seals and sea lions. We often see both in zoos and aquariums and you might see seals on our beaches in winter, but no sea lions in NJ.
So, what's the difference between seals and sea lions?
Seals and sea lions belong to a group of marine mammals called pinnipeds, which means fin or flipper-footed. These animals live in the ocean but can come on land for long periods. Some species have evolved the ability to hold their breath for up to two hours and dive to depths of more than 6,500 feet when looking for food.
Sea Lion and Seal (NOAA)
Sea lions are brown, bark loudly, "walk" on land using their large flippers, and have visible ear flaps. Seals have small flippers, wriggle on their bellies on land, and lack visible ear flaps. Their colors vary but are often in shades or gray or even white.
Sea lions are also quite noisy with barking sounds. Seals are quieter, vocalizing via soft grunts.
There are two families of pinnipeds: Phocids and Otariids. Phocids are also known as earless seals or “true” seals. They have ear holes, but no external ear flaps and move on land by flopping along on their bellies. Phocids include the harbor seal.
Otariids, also known as eared seals, include sea lions and fur seals such as the Steller sea lion and the northern fur seal. Unlike true seals, they have external ear flaps. Their front flippers are large, and on land, they can bring all four flippers underneath their bodies and walk on them. Otariids propel themselves in the water by paddling their front flippers and using their rear flippers to steer.
Though seals are not endangered or threatened in New Jersey, when they do visit us they are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.
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