Common Seal vs Soft Puffball

Phoca vitulina compared with Lycoperdon molle

Key Differences

Common Seal is Near Threatened while Soft Puffball is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	Soft Puffball
Kingdom	Animalia (動物)	Fungi (菌界)
Phylum	Chordata (脊索動物)	Basidiomycota (担子菌門)
Class	Mammalia (哺乳類)	Agaricomycetes (真正担子菌綱)
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Agaricales (ハラタケ目)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Lycoperdaceae
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Lycoperdon
Species	Phoca vitulina	Lycoperdon molle

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Soft Puffball

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal	Soft Puffball
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.

Soft Puffball

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (United States).

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。