Are Fur Seals Really Seals?

Most people think that Fur Seals are Seals ... but is that true?  Are they really Seals? In a previous post, we went over what makes a Seal and a Sea Lion different from each other.  As you can see from the photo below, Fur Seals have ear flaps.  Ear flaps are a characteristic of a Sea Lion. 




Fur Seals have a rotating hip bone that helps them move on all four flippers, and also can slide their feet underneath their small little bodies. Seals always lay like a enormous loaf of bread on the ground and have to bounce to get anywhere on land.



Because Fur Seals have ear flaps and move on their four flippers, they are actually more closely related to Sea Lions rather than Seals!  This is why Fur Seals are classified in the Family of Pinnipeds of "Otariidae" (Sea Lions and Fur Seals) and not "Phocidae" (earless, or true Seals).  So next time you go to a aquarium or zoo that has Fur Seals, please do not say "Oh what a cute SEAL!" without adding the "Fur" part of their name.

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