Common Seal vs Gulper Shark

Phoca vitulina compared with Centrophorus granulosus

Key Differences

Common Seal is Near Threatened while Gulper Shark is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	Gulper Shark
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Elasmobranchii
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Squaliformes (Squaliformes)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Centrophoridae
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Centrophorus
Species	Phoca vitulina	Centrophorus granulosus

Evolutionary Relationship

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

View Phylum: Chordata

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Gulper Shark

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal	Gulper Shark
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.

Gulper Shark

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Portugal and Taiwan. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.