seal v. sea lion

Seals and sea lions are pinnipeds, an order of partially aquatic, flipper-footed, carnivorous mammals that also includes walruses.

Feature	Seal	Sea Lion
Family	Phocidae (true seals)	Otariidae (includes fur seals)
On land	clumsy; tail-like rear flippers point backward, and are not used for walking	better adapted to terrestrial environments; rear flippers can be turned forward to walk on all fours
Front flippers	short, fur-covered, with claws	long, hairless, no claws
Swim primarily by	undulating entire body	moving large foreflippers
Body	small and stout	large and sleek
Ears	ear holes; lack external ears	external ear flaps
Snout	streamlined	dog-like
Communication	slapping water, grunting	vocalizations
Social	less social	more social

 

Sea lion balancing a soccer ball. Image courtesy of The Huffington Post.

Essortment.com on seal v. sea lion