This causes differences between the two in locomotion when on land: seals move forward by caterpillar-like hitching movements; sea lions use their hind legs to walk or even gallop across land. An adaptation is passed from generation to generation. It is precisely these extremities that differentiate them from sea lions. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. Sea lions’ flippers have no hair or claws so that they can more easily grip the surface of rocks, and many of their mating areas are on rocky terrain. 95531. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. Some of the worlds are: Planet Earth, Under The Sea, Inventions, Seasons, Circus, Transports and ...Continue reading ‘Seals and sea lions’ » At first glance, they may look fairly similar. Fur seals are eared seals and belong to family Otariidae. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. It is classified as earless pinnipeds and is closely related to sea lion and walrus. (50 t… When comparing a sea lion vs. seal you can spot the difference a few ways, one of which is the lack or presence of an ear. Seals do not have external ears. Kim Hulse, National Geographic Society Watch and discuss the video.Show students the video of leopard seals. The sea lion's hind flippers are stronger and more flexible. Code of Ethics. There are 18 species of true seals, according to Seals World. Seals vs. Sea Lions. This curated collection for learners in grades 3-5 can be implemented at home with minimal supplies and includes engaging, fun, and skill-building lessons in social studies, geography, science, and more. There are other, somewhat subtle, differences between the front flippers of the two groups, but the hind flipper differences are noticeable. 1. They are uniformly dark brown and vocalize with the notable sea lion "bark". Manner of Swimming. Seals and sea lions have many similarities, and are in the same family of Pinnipeds, but they lead very different lives. This is why scientists refer to species in the family Otariidae as eared seals. They return to land to give birth and nurse their young. Introduce the concept of classification.Discuss why scientists classify animals into different groups. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. “Seals” is actually a generalized name for all pinnipeds. Distribute the worksheet and have students identify similarities.Give each student a copy of the worksheet Seals and Sea Lions: Compare and Contrast. Seals and sea lions share adaptations for living in the sea—including blubber, flippers, and streamlined bodies. Female mammals produce milk to feed their offspring. Seals vs Sea Lions. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. 11 Jul, 2018 Seals and sea lions are found in many of America’s national marine sanctuaries. Most of the California sea lions in RNSP are adult and subadult males that migrate north after the breeding season in southern California. Steller sea lions have golden-colored fur with darker extremities, and instead of the "bark" of the California sea lion, Stellers vocalize by growling or "bellowing". Seals lack an external ear flap whereas sea lions have an external ear flap that is visible. Taxonomic discussions tend to be a bit muddled as scientists strive to classify all the different species on the planet. If you can tell the sea lions apart, you’ve reached expert level in seal identification. But seals and sea lions belong to different families. In seals, the hind flippers extend directly behind the body, and are not capable of rotation unlike the hind flippers of sea lions that are longer and may be rotated toward the front of the body. How can sea lions and fur seals be told apart from these true seals? CodyCross is a famous newly released game which is developed by Fanatee. (Possible answers: Seals do not have ear openings; sea lions do. Firstly, seals and sea lions have completely different ears. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. 4. Unlike other sea-lions, the species only breeds every 17-18 months, with Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island supporting the third largest colony of Australian Sea-lions with a population of around 1,000. Next, there is a pretty … They are actually different animal families under the order “pinniped,” which means “fin-footed” in Latin. © 1996 - 2020 National Geographic Society. Ask students to think of an example of two animals that look similar but belong to different families. Seals are marine mammals called pinnipeds of the family of phocids, very adapted to aquatic life, although they can also live brief periods on land. Seal is a member of the Phocidae family. Sea lions use mainly forelimbs for swimming, and they appear to be flying underwater. She or he will best know the preferred format. Seals and sea lions are members of the pinniped family and the Oregon Coast is home to Harbor Seals, Steller Sea Lions, California Sea Lions and Northern Elephant Seals, some of which can be seen year-round. Crescent City, CA Tell students that the science of classifying organisms into different groups is taxonomy. Each world has more than 20 groups with 5 puzzles each. (907.18 kg). 1. In and around Redwood National and State Parks, the most commonly seen eared seal is the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Usually there's only one subadult animal at a time hauled out on a sandy beach undergoing its annual molt. If you have ever seen an episode of Shark Week chances are you have seen the specials that showcase the great white sharks jumping off the coast of South Africa. Males measure about 20 feet long (6 meters), while females are about half as long. Sea lions have visible small external ears. The sea lion has a visual external pinnae that looks more like a tiny dog ear. But … One must travel somewhere else along the California coast to see a spectacular adult male elephant seal, with its long proboscis, or nose, for which the species is named. These two amazing creatures are larger than grizzly bears and are some of the top marine predators. Sea-lions can also be seen on the way out to Bremer Canyon, where Orcas area also prevelant. They are often seen bobbing in the surf, checking out the shoreline. Ask them how they would explain how to tell seals and sea lions apart to someone who has never seen either. Seals swim using the sculling movement of their hind flippers. animal with hair that gives birth to live offspring. Being at home is a great time to learn. The first difference between the seals and sea lions that we will discuss is the shape of their bodies and front fore flippers. In and around RNSP, there are two seal species to be found, the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), and northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirotris). Seals vs Sea Lions Both seals and sea lions, together with the walrus, are pinnipeds, which means “fin-footed” in Latin. It's not like a sea lion doesn't have its own impressive set of jaws, not to mention they hunt penguins as well. Females are much smaller. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Seals and sea lions are actually called fin-footed animals or pinnipedia. Seals are smaller than sea lions; male Stellar sea lions can grow to be up to 2,200 pounds. The group of marine mammals consisting of seals, sea lions, and walruses is known as the Pinnipeds, (from "pinna" meaning "feather" + "pes" meaning "foot" = "feather-footed"). Show them the photo gallery of harbor seals, leopard seals, and California sea lions.2. When seals and sea lions share our shores, we need to give them space, especially mothers with pups. Have students compare the two drawings and list at least two features that seals and sea lions share. Fur seals and sea lions are also known as eared seals. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. They are mammals, which means that they have live young, produce milk, have hair (or fur) on their bodies, and breathe air. The breakdown of these families looks something like this: True seals are termed "earless" because they lack an external ear flap, whereas in "eared" seals or sea lions an external ear flap is visible. Steller males are massive, the largest of the eared seals, weighing in at 1,200 lbs (0.5 metric ton) or greater. So, unlike fur seals and sea lions, the true seals … Pinnipeds are further distributed into the Odobenidae family, which is the walrus; the Otariidae family, which includes eared seals, sea lions, and fur seals; and the Phocidae family, which is the earless seals. Seals vs. Sea Lions. Washington, DC 20036, National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Christina Riska Simmons, Mary C. Cahill, Middle School Science Coordinator, The Potomac School, McLean, VA, Special thanks to the National Geographic Museum, adapted from National Geographic “Crittercam Educator Activities”. Sea lions can reach speeds of 25-30 mph! Have students use the National Geographic Animals site to research what California sea lions eat, where they find food, and how they eat it. (3,855.5 kilograms). 1145 17th Street NW Although they feed in the sea, they surface for air. This lists the logos of programs or partners of, National Geographic Animals: California Sea Lion, explain why scientists classify animals into different groups, identify the similarities and differences between seals and sea lions, describe how the similarities help the animals to swim in cold water, Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector, Speakers. Seals, on the other hand, build speed with their rear flippers and by moving their lower body side-to-side in a sculling motion. Fur seals are occasionally seen off the RNSP coastline farther out to sea, however, they do not come ashore here, and breed in the far northern Pacific. Movement on Land The word 'pinniped' means 'fin foot', as the four legs of seals, sea-lions and walrus have developed into flippers to better suit their life in the water. Seals belong to family Phocidae. Sea lions also have a more rounded snout whereas the fur seal has a more pointed nose. They usually have a streamlined barrel shape and four flippers at the end of each limb. Fur seals, actually in the sea lion group, having extremely long hind flippers. Harbor seals are quite common and may be seen lounging on flat-topped near shore rocks, or hauled out sandy beaches, primarily around the Redwood Creek estuary. Privacy Notice | Sea lions and fur seals have external ears that protrude from their heads. Besides, when swimming, the seal mainly uses the hind flippers as thrusters; the sea lion swims with its front fins, with hind flippers acting as rudders. Have students identify differences.Have students find at least two features that differ in seals and sea lions. All rights reserved. a modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence. This activity targets the following skills: The resources are also available at the top of the page. Noticing the differences between a Sea Lion and a Harbor Seal: First off, let’s talk about those good looks. Seals were tagged as earless since they do not have ear flaps. Elephant seals, on the other hand, are uniformly tan colored all over, and seen only rarely within the parks. Tell them they can confirm or revise their predictions as they watch a video.5. Males are massive, weighing up to 8,500 lbs. True seals are also known as earless seals, or simply "seals". Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) were once abundant and commonly seen at Point Lobos as recently as the 1950’s. External Ear. What Are the Differences Between Seals and Sea Lions? Telling the Difference Between a Seal vs Sea Lion Before where, you should understand who these creatures are that we're talking about. Despite the similarities of outward appearance, true seals and sea lions have some noticeable differences, due to convergent evolution. Seals and sea lions share adaptations for living in the sea—including blubber, flippers, and streamlined bodies. The other resident eared seal is the Steller, or Northern, sea lion (Eumetopias jubata), a federally threatened species. Find out Seals and sea lions Answers. Have students write a paragraph summarizing the information they find. California sea lions are the "trained seal" of marine parks and circuses. Kristen Dell, National Geographic Society, Sheryl Hasegawa, National Geographic Society Seals and sea-lions, together with the walrus, are in the group of animals called pinnipeds. (Hair, blubber, and flippers all keep animals warm in icy water.)3. The Phocidae, or family group to which the true seals belong, are believed to have descended from a terrestrial weasel-like ancestor, while the Otariidae, or sea lion family group, are thought to have descended from a terrestrial bear-like ancestor. Terms of Service | The ones that eat mostly fish specialize in oil-bearing species like eels, herrings, and anchovies because they swim in shoals and are easy to catch, and are good energy sources. As per the classification of Pinnipeds, there are two types of seals: fur seals and true seals. But after a thorough inspection, you may know the difference between sea lion vs seal.However, the differences are not very notable, but a good comparison between sea lion vs seal will show you the apparent differences. Discuss how this movement relates to the animals' vulnerability to predators like polar bears and sharks. Fur seals, actually in the sea lion group, having extremely long hind flippers. Have students make predictions.Explain to students that seals' rear flippers extend backward; sea lions' rear flippers extend forward. The California Sea Lion as pictured […] The smallest is the ringed seal, with an average length of 5 feet (1.5 m) and a weight of 110 to 150 lbs. Ask students to predict which of these marine mammals could move most easily on land (sea lions). Seals have little holes on their head, and lacks a pinnae. National Geographic Headquarters It has many crosswords divided into different worlds and groups. Looking at the photos of sea lions vs. fur seals, can you find any other ways to tell them apart? Sea lions can only dive as deep as 450m, but dives further than 200 are uncommon, and they can’t store as much oxygen in their lungs as seals can. Seals have shorter front flippers; sea lions have longer front flippers.) Similarities, and streamlined bodies using the sculling movement of their hind flippers. ) 3 many of America s. 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