Common Seal vs Great Skua

Phoca vitulina compared with Stercorarius skua

Key Differences

• Common Seal is Near Threatened while Great Skua is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	Great Skua
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Charadriiformes (Charadriiformes)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Stercorariidae
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Stercorarius
Species	Phoca vitulina	Stercorarius skua

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Seal and Great Skua share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Great Skua

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal	Great Skua
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.

Great Skua

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found across Europe (4 countries) and South America (Colombia, Venezuela).

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden