Common Seal vs Northern elephant seal

Phoca vitulina compared with Mirounga angustirostris

Key Differences

• Common Seal is Near Threatened while Northern elephant seal is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	Northern elephant seal
Kingdom same	Animalia (hewan)	Animalia (hewan)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (mamalia)	Mammalia (mamalia)
Order same	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)
Family same	Phocidae (True Seals)	Phocidae (True Seals)
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Mirounga
Species	Phoca vitulina	Mirounga angustirostris

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Seal and Northern elephant seal share a common ancestor at the Family level: Phocidae. (True Seals)

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Northern elephant seal

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal	Northern elephant 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.

Northern elephant seal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.