Common Seal vs Sallow Button

Phoca vitulina compared with Acleris hastiana

Key Differences

• Common Seal is Near Threatened while Sallow Button is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	Sallow Button
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Arthropoda (สัตว์ขาปล้อง)
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Insecta (แมลง)
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Lepidoptera (ผีเสื้อ)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Tortricidae
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Acleris
Species	Phoca vitulina	Acleris hastiana

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Seal and Sallow Button share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (สัตว์)

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Sallow Button

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal	Sallow Button
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.

Sallow Button

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States