Common Seal vs Mossy Fern

Phoca vitulina compared with Elaphoglossum furcatum

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	Mossy Fern
Kingdom	Animalia (สัตว์)	Plantae (พืช)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Polypodiales (Polypodiales)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Dryopteridaceae
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Elaphoglossum
Species	Phoca vitulina	Elaphoglossum furcatum

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Mossy Fern

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal	Mossy Fern
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.

Mossy Fern

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

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.