Bearded seal vs Common Seal

Erignathus barbatus compared with Phoca vitulina

Key Differences

Bearded seal is Not Evaluated while Common Seal is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bearded seal	Common Seal
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)
Family same	Phocidae (True Seals)	Phocidae (True Seals)
Genus	Erignathus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)
Species	Erignathus barbatus	Phoca vitulina

Evolutionary Relationship

Bearded seal and Common Seal share a common ancestor at the Family level: Phocidae. (True Seals)

View Family: Phocidae

Conservation Status

Bearded seal

NE — Not Evaluated

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bearded seal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

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.

Bearded seal

The Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) is a species in the genus Erignathus. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.