What is the difference between the South American Fur Seal (Arctocephalus australis) and the South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens)?

The South American Fur Seal and the South American Sea Lion are both marine (saltwater) mammals in the Pinnipedia clade of sea lions and fur seals. They are both pinniped mammals, which means that they are fin-footed.

The South American Fur Seal are both in the Otariidae family, which means that they both have ears. The South American Fur Seal has no external ear flaps, whereas the South American Sea Lion has small but clearly visible external ear flaps. 

The South American Fur Seal crawls on land because its fins are too small to walk on, whereas the South American Sea Lion can lean on and walk on its finned legs.   

The South American Fur Seal is smaller than the South American Sea Lion. The South American Fur Seal grows to 150-200 centimetres (59-99 inches) long, whereas the South American Sea Lion grows to 180-273 centimetres (71-108 inches) long.

The South American Fur Seal has a smaller geographical distribution than the South American Sea Lion. The South American Fur Seal is found in the coastal waters of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands, whereas the South American Sea Lion is also found in Ecuador.

Location of photograpsh: Parc Zoologique de Paris in Bois de Vincennes, France

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM