Mammals have been distributed in a wide variety of habitats on a planetary level, including aquatic environments. In the latter, there are various animals that, although they have certain similarities at first sight, have significant differences, starting with their taxonomy. An example of this is found in the pinnipeds, where three families are located: Odobenidae (walruses), Phocidae (true seals) and Otariidae (sea lions). All of these have developed adaptations to live very efficiently in the water, where they spend much of their time, except when they need to reproduce or eventually escape from a predator.
Have you ever had doubts about differentiating one of these animals? Then we invite you to continue reading this article on our site so that you know the differences between walrus, seal and sea lion.
Taxonomy of the walrus, seal and sea lion
Scientific progress has made it possible, over time, to make adjustments regarding the classification of pinnipeds, due to emerging morphological and molecular evidence. One aspect in which there is usually a coincidence from the advances is that the three groups have a common ancestry However, there are different positions, since some they favor the closeness with the ursids and others with the mustelids. Next, let's know the general classification for each case.
Walruses
In the case of walruses, we find the following classification:
- Animalia Kingdom
- Filo: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Odobenidae
- Genus: Odobenus
- Species: Odobenus rosmarus
Traditionally the species had been subdivided into the Atlantic walrus (O. r. Rosmarus), the Pacific walrus (O. r. Divergens) and the Laptev walrus (O. r. Laptevi). However, based on scientific evidence, it has been suggested that the latter be eliminated, leaving only two walrus subspecies
Seals
As for the seals, their general classification is presented as follows:
- Animalia Kingdom
- Filo: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Phocidae
Seals have the following genera in which, in addition to species, certain subspecies are also found.
- Cystophora
- Erignathus
- Halichoerus
- Histriophoca
- Hydrurga
- Heptonychotes
- Lobodon
- Mirounga
- Monachus
- Ommatophoca
- Pagophilus
- Phoca
- Pusa
Sea lion
Finally, with the sea lions we find the following classification:
- Animalia Kingdom
- Filo: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Otariidae
In the case of these animals, the species and some subspecies are grouped into the following genera:
- Arctocephalus
- Callorhinus
- Eumetopias
- Neophoca
- Otaria
- Phocarctos
- Zalophus
As we have seen, both walruses and seals and sea lions are aquatic mammals. If you want to know more about aquatic mammals, their characteristics and examples, do not hesitate to visit this other article that we recommend.
Characteristics of the walrus, seal and sea lion
Although at first glance they may seem similar due to their generally spindle-shaped bodies, there are differences between walruses, seals and sea lions. Let's get to know those particular aspects in each case.
Walruses
Walruses have a particular morphology and, in some cases, are thought to have intermediate characteristics between seals and sea lions. Their extremities have been modified to form fins, as has generally happened in pinnipeds. Still, in the case of walruses, these modifications are important to move both in water and on land effectively.
They are able to rotate their pelvic fins downwards to aid movement. They have a adipose layer inside the wrinkled skin, up to about 15 cm, which helps with insulation, since their fur is very scarce. The distinguishing feature of walruses is their long canine teeth which are often called tusks. They can reach great weights. In the case of males they can weigh up to 1.2 tons and females up to 850 kg. The head is rounded, the snout is wide, with thick whiskers, and they lack an external ear The coloration is brown in some cases with yellowish tones.
Seals
The phocids or true seals vary considerably depending on the size of the species, from about 90 kg in the ringed seals, to the immense elephant seals, which can reach more than 3 tons. The limbs have claws and the front flippers are smaller than the rear ones, the latter cannot be folded down the body, so that, strictly speaking, They can't walk on land, but they can move quickly if they put their mind to it.
Have a fat layer of up to 25% of body weight; the amount of fur and coloration varies according to the species, with different patterns. Certain genera are practically hairless and some species have them on the snout. Seals don't have external ears, but their ear canal is unique, which is well protected to efficiently withstand underwater pressures. Finally, the phocids are mammals adapted to swim very efficiently.
Sea lions
There are some species that are commonly called sea lions, but they also belong to the group of otariids. These possess an auricular pavilion, which forms a small ear. Unlike seals, their long thoracic limbs can be flexed to move on land; the rear ones are also large and all four have small claws. All species have fur, but it varies. In sea lions, the hair is abundant and coarse and is more specialized for thermoregulation, while in sea lions, the fur is short, less coarse and is sticks to skin when wet.
In general, the coloring tends towards uniformity of brown tones. The weight range varies between 150 kg and 1 ton, with males being larger than females.
If you want to know more about sea lions and sea lions, their characteristics, names and photos, you can find more information in this other article.
Habitat of walruses, seals and sea lions
Another difference between walruses, seals and sea lions is the habitat in which they live. Thus, below we will explain what the habitat is for each of these animals.
Walrus Habitat
Walruses have a distribution towards northern regions, so they are present in the arctic and subarctic marine area, although discontinuous form. In this sense, they are native to:
- Alaska
- Canada
- Greenland
- Russian Federation
- Svalbard
- Jan Mayen
Eventually, there are some individuals who move to other countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, among others. They are generally on the continental shelf and dive to shallow depths.
Seal Habitat
As for the seals, as they have a greater variety of species, they have a broader distribution, which is located both in latitudes of the northern hemisphere, as well as the southern Thus, depending on the species, they live in polar, subpolar, temperate or tropical maritime regions. However, there is one exception: the Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica). This seal is endemic to Russia and lives in fresh water. Some examples of where seals live are:
- Mediterranean Sea
- Coastal United States (including Hawaii)
- Argentina
- Arctic
- Antarctica
- Canada
- Chili
- Greenland
- New Zealand
- South Africa.
Seals can dive to great depths and some of them have migratory behaviour, so they swim great distances. If you are still curious about seal habitat, here you can find details on Where do seals live?
Sea Lion Habitat
Sea lions are distributed along diverse seacoasts, for example, in the case of the Pacific, they are found both in North America as in the south, in central and north Asia, New Zealand, in various islands, archipelagos, in the South Atlantic where they cover various islands, and in Australia and islands of the Indian region. Unlike seals, otariids make faster dives and less depth, as well as shorter displacements Although depending on the species they tend to prefer cold waters from the north or south, some are located in tropical waters.
Behavior of the walrus, seal and sea lion
As for the customs of walruses, seals and sea lions, we will detail them below.
Walrus behavior
The walrus is a fairly social animal and, on land or on pack ice, can form small groups or groups of thousands of individuals. They usually move in company and when it is not the reproductive season, they segregate according to sex.
Tend to develop with a narrow ecological role that must have access to:
- Large areas of shallow water, where bivalves are found on which they mainly feed.
- Open waters they can move to when ice covers regular feeding areas. In this way, what they do is look for other animals such as sea cucumbers, crabs, worms and snails, among others.
They mate in winter, when the males make courtships, vocalizing, and establish small areas in the water with several females to copulate with all of them.
Seal behavior
For their part, the members of the Phocidae family vary in behavior according to the species. They are generally active hunters that feed on fish, squid, octopus, plankton and penguins, among others. Here you can find more information about What do seals eat?
Depending on the species, some may be monogamous, establishing pairs or polygamous, by forming colonies. However, they differ from the walrus and sea lion in that their congregations are not as large. Seals are expert swimmers , depending on the species their ability to resist underwater varies. Some have migratory behavior.
Sea Lion Behavior
The sea lion is a social animal, which congregates on dry land in large numbers for the time of reproduction. The male arrives first and establishes a territory, which aggressively defendsand only allows the presence of several females, with whom he will copulate. A curious feature is that the females give birth to the offspring of the previous reproductive season and, a few days later, they begin the new heat and copulate with the males. Their diet is based on fish, crustaceans, octopus and squid.
