vs Common Seal

Buellia ocellata compared with Phoca vitulina

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Common Seal
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Caliciales (Caliciales)	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)
Family	Caliciaceae	Phocidae (True Seals)
Genus	Buellia	Phoca (Harbor Seals)
Species	Buellia ocellata	Phoca vitulina

Conservation Status

NT — Near Threatened

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. 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.

Buellia ocellata is a crustose lichen with a pale grey to white areolate thallus bearing dark lecideine apothecia surrounded by a paler excipular ring. It inhabits exposed bark of old deciduous trees and smooth-barked conifers in temperate European woodlands. This lichen is sensitive to air quality changes and associated with veteran trees in ancient woodland.

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.