Common Dodder vs Common Seal

Cuscuta gronovii compared with Phoca vitulina

Key Differences

Common Dodder is Least Concern while Common Seal is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Dodder	Common Seal
Kingdom	Plantae (植物)	Animalia (動物)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (被子植物門)	Chordata (脊索動物)
Class	Magnoliopsida (モクレン綱)	Mammalia (哺乳類)
Order	Solanales (ナス目)	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)
Family	Convolvulaceae	Phocidae (True Seals)
Genus	Cuscuta	Phoca (Harbor Seals)
Species	Cuscuta gronovii	Phoca vitulina

Conservation Status

Common Dodder

LC — Least Concern

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Dodder	Common Seal
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	30 years
Average Length	—	1.7 m
Average Weight	—	80.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Dodder

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found across Europe (11 countries) and North America (United States).

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.

Common Dodder

<em>Cuscuta gronovii</em>, the common dodder, is a parasitic annual vine in the family Convolvulaceae. This species is distributed across eleven European countries as well as the United States, where it typically inhabits diverse terrestrial environments including wetland margins, roadsides, thickets, and disturbed vegetation. Unlike most plants, <em>Cuscuta gronovii</em> lacks chlorophyll and is entirely dependent on host plants for water and nutrients, which it extracts through specialized structures called haustoria. The common dodder typically has slender, twining orange or yellowish stems and produces small, clustered white or pale pink flowers in late summer. It often parasitizes a broad range of host species, including many herbaceous and shrubby plants. Once attached to a host, it typically sheds its connection to the soil and relies entirely on the host for sustenance. The species is assessed as Least Concern, reflecting its wide distribution and ability to colonize disturbed habitats. Its parasitic life history makes it ecologically notable among flowering plants.

Common Seal

最も広く分布する鰭脚類であるゴマフアザラシの近縁種・ゼニガタアザラシ（Phoca vitulina）は、北大西洋と北太平洋の温帯・亜北極沿岸に生息する。成体は最大130kgに達し、海での魚・イカ・甲殻類の捕食と海岸や岩場での休息にほぼ同じ時間を費やす。大きく表情豊かな目は低照度での水中視覚に適応している。シャチ・サメ・ホッキョクグマにとって重要な食料源である。