vs Common Seal

Clostridium carnis compared with Phoca vitulina

Key Differences

is Not Evaluated while Common Seal is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Common Seal
Kingdom	Bacteria (Bacteria)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Firmicutes_A	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Clostridia (Clostridia)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Clostridiales (Clostridiales)	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)
Family	Clostridiaceae	Phocidae (True Seals)
Genus	Clostridium	Phoca (Harbor Seals)
Species	Clostridium carnis	Phoca vitulina

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

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 Asia, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Taiwan.

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.

Clostridium carnis is an anaerobic, endospore-forming bacterium in the family Clostridiaceae typically isolated from meat (caro/carnis, Latin for meat) and animal tissues, as well as soil and sediments. Like other clostridia, it is a strictly anaerobic, Gram-positive rod that survives adverse conditions by forming heat-resistant endospores. C. carnis is associated with putrefaction processes in proteinaceous substrates, producing proteolytic enzymes that break down meat proteins, contributing to gas gangrene and tissue necrosis in infected wounds under anaerobic conditions. It is considered one of the histotoxic clostridia capable of causing wound infections in humans and animals, though it is less clinically significant than C. perfringens or C. septicum. Isolated from soil, intestinal contents, and meat products, C. carnis contributes to anaerobic decomposition of organic nitrogen compounds, releasing ammonia and simpler organic acids back into the environment. Its resistance to environmental conditions through sporulation makes it persistent in soil environments associated with animal husbandry and meat processing facilities.

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.