Common Seal vs Nile Crocodile

Phoca vitulina compared with Crocodylus niloticus

Key Differences

Common Seal is Near Threatened while Nile Crocodile is Least Concern.
Nile Crocodile is 9.4x heavier than Common Seal.
Nile Crocodile lives longer (70 years vs 30 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	Nile Crocodile
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Reptilia (Reptiles)
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Crocodylia (Crocodilians)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Crocodylidae (Crocodiles)
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Crocodylus (True Crocodiles)
Species	Phoca vitulina	Crocodylus niloticus

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Seal and Nile Crocodile 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 →

Nile Crocodile

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal	Nile Crocodile
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	30 years	70 years
Average Length	1.7 m	5.0 m
Average Weight	80.0 kg	750.0 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.

Nile Crocodile

Habitat

Typically found in diverse ecosystems where prey species are available.

Range

Distributed across Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, South Africa, and Tanzania.

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.