Common Seal vs Speckled ray

Phoca vitulina compared with Raja polystigma

Key Differences

• Common Seal is Near Threatened while Speckled ray is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	Speckled ray
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (cordados)	Chordata (cordados)
Class	Mammalia (mamíferos)	Elasmobranchii
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Rajiformes (Rajiformes)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Rajidae
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Raja
Species	Phoca vitulina	Raja polystigma

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Seal and Speckled ray share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (cordados)

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Speckled ray

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal	Speckled ray
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.

Speckled ray

Common Seal

O pinípede de distribuição mais ampla, a foca-comum (Phoca vitulina) habita as costas temperadas e subárticas do Atlântico Norte e do Pacífico Norte. Os adultos atingem até 130 kg e passam tempo aproximadamente igual no mar caçando peixes, lulas e crustáceos e descansando em praias ou rochas. Seus grandes e expressivos olhos são adaptados para a visão subaquática em pouca luz. A foca-comum é uma fonte de alimento fundamental para orcas, tubarões e ursos-polares.