We saw this commercial tonight:
Something triggered a memory and I looked it up. Notice the external ear flap on the "Seal" in the commercial. Likewise, the size and placement of the flippers.
From the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's website:
What's the difference between seals and sea lions?
Have you ever wondered about the main differences between seals and their "second cousins," the sea lions?Both seals and sea lions, together with the walrus, are pinnipeds, which means "fin footed" in Latin.
But seals' furry, generally stubby front feet — thinly webbed flippers, actually, with a claw on each small toe — seem petite in comparison to the mostly skin-covered, elongated fore flippers that sea lions possess.
Secondly, sea lions have small flaps for outer ears. The "earless" or "true" seals lack external ears altogether. You have to get very close to see the tiny holes on the sides of a seal’s sleek head.
Third, sea lions are noisy. Seals are quieter, vocalizing via soft grunts.
Fourth, while both species spend time both in and out of the water, seals are better adapted to live in the water than on land. Though their bodies can appear chubby, seals are generally smaller and more aquadynamic than sea lions. At the same time, their hind flippers angle backward and don't rotate. This makes them fast in the water but basic belly crawlers on terra firma.
Sea lions, on the other hand, are able to "walk" on land by rotating their hind flippers forward and underneath their big bodies. This is why they are more likely to be employed in aquaria and marine shows.
Heh - Thompson's Water Seal Sea Lion, you are sooo busted.
