cabbage thistle vs Common Seal

Cirsium oleraceum compared with Phoca vitulina

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	cabbage thistle	Common Seal
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)
Family	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)	Phocidae (True Seals)
Genus	Cirsium	Phoca (Harbor Seals)
Species	Cirsium oleraceum	Phoca vitulina

Conservation Status

cabbage thistle

NT — Near Threatened

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

cabbage thistle

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found across Europe (9 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.

cabbage thistle

The Cabbage thistle (Cirsium oleraceum) is a species in the genus Cirsium. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

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.