Seals

Source A small seal and a huge elephant seal have more in common than they first appear! Both belong to the pinnipeds, together with sea lions and walruses. This image illustrates adult males measuring 1.7 m for a harbor seal, 2.3 m for a gray seal, 2.4 m for a California sea lion, 3 m for a Steller sea lion, 3.3 m for a walrus and 5.5 m for a southern elephant seal. The comparison uses the length of an extended body, rather than its height when sitting upright. Differences between males and females can be substantial, and species size ranges overlap, so the sequence is not a fixed ranking of all individuals. True seals lack visible external ear flaps, whereas sea lions have them. The walrus stands out for its tusks and whiskers, while a large male elephant seal has a distinctive nose. Looking at the flippers and body shapes reveals different adaptations for a life shared between the water and the coast. When the familiar still surprises. I knew they were good size but this…