Common Seal vs

Phoca vitulina compared with Gomphonema utae

Key Differences

• Common Seal is Near Threatened while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Chromista (Chromista)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Bacillariophyceae (Bacillariophyceae)
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Cymbellales (Cymbellales)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Gomphonemataceae
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Gomphonema
Species	Phoca vitulina	Gomphonema utae

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal
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.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across 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.

Gomphonema utae is a freshwater pennate diatom in the family Gomphonemataceae with a characteristic asymmetric, clavate frustule that tapers toward the foot-pole where it attaches via a mucilage pad or stalk. It is found in epilithic and epiphytic communities in streams and lakes across temperate regions. The species contributes to biofilm formation and serves as a bioindicator of water quality.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden