Common Seal vs Yellow-legged Centurion

Phoca vitulina compared with Sargus flavipes

Key Differences

• Common Seal is Near Threatened while Yellow-legged Centurion is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	Yellow-legged Centurion
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Diptera (Diptera)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Stratiomyidae
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Sargus
Species	Phoca vitulina	Sargus flavipes

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Seal and Yellow-legged Centurion share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Yellow-legged Centurion

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal	Yellow-legged Centurion
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.

Yellow-legged Centurion

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, 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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden