Common Seal vs Cupped Ear

Phoca vitulina compared with Otidea cantharella

Key Differences

Common Seal is Near Threatened while Cupped Ear is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	Cupped Ear
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Pezizomycetes (Pezizomycetes)
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Pezizales (Pezizales)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Otideaceae
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Otidea
Species	Phoca vitulina	Otidea cantharella

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Cupped Ear

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Cupped Ear

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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.