Apollo vs Common Seal

Parnassius apollo compared with Phoca vitulina

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Apollo	Common Seal
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)
Family	Papilionidae	Phocidae (True Seals)
Genus	Parnassius	Phoca (Harbor Seals)
Species	Parnassius apollo	Phoca vitulina

Evolutionary Relationship

Apollo and Common Seal share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Apollo

NT — Near Threatened

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Apollo	Common Seal
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	30 years
Average Length	—	1.7 m
Average Weight	—	80.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Apollo

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (29 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Common Seal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse ecosystems where prey species are available.

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries) and North America (United States). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Apollo

Apollo (Parnassius apollo) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.

Common Seal

The most widely distributed pinniped, harbor seals inhabit temperate and subarctic coastal waters of both the North Atlantic and North Pacific. Adults reach up to 130 kg and spend roughly equal time at sea hunting fish, squid, and crustaceans and hauling out on beaches or rocks to rest. Their large, expressive eyes are adapted for underwater vision in low light. Harbor seals are a critical food source for orcas, sharks, and polar bears.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇦 Ukraine