Common Seal vs False Puffball

Phoca vitulina compared with Reticularia lycoperdon

Key Differences

Common Seal is Near Threatened while False Puffball is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	False Puffball
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Protozoa (protozoa)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Mycetozoa
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Myxomycetes (Myxomycetes)
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Cribrariales (Cribrariida)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Tubiferaceae
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Reticularia
Species	Phoca vitulina	Reticularia lycoperdon

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

False Puffball

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal	False Puffball
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.

False Puffball

Habitat

Native to Asia and Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil).

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.