Common Seal vs Crazed Cap

Phoca vitulina compared with Dermoloma cuneifolium

Key Differences

• Common Seal is Near Threatened while Crazed Cap is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Seal	Crazed Cap
Kingdom	Animalia (hayvan)	Fungi (mantar)
Phylum	Chordata (Kordalılar)	Basidiomycota (Bazitli mantarlar)
Class	Mammalia (memeliler)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)	Agaricales (Lamelli mantarlar)
Family	Phocidae (True Seals)	Tricholomataceae
Genus	Phoca (Harbor Seals)	Dermoloma
Species	Phoca vitulina	Dermoloma cuneifolium

Conservation Status

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Crazed Cap

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Seal	Crazed Cap
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.

Crazed Cap

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Norway, and Sweden. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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 3 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden