Discover the 10 Largest Seals in the World

Seals belong to a large clade of semi-aquatic animals called Pinnipeds. This clade also includes sea lions and walruses. However, they are all referred to as seals. There are over 30 species of pinnipeds, grouped into three families by specific characteristics. The family Phocidae includes true seals, or earless seals, which are seals that do not have visible ear flaps. Fur seals and sea lions belong to the family Otariidae. These are eared seals with visible ear flaps. The walrus is the only animal in the family Odobenidae, and they are known for their large tusks. Using both length and weight, here are the 10 largest seals in the world among these diverse groups of carnivorous marine mammals.

10. California Sea Lion

California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) inhabit the rocky shores of the North Pacific. These pinnipeds are often observed lounging on beaches, jetties, docks, and buoys from Alaska down to Mexico. They can reach up to 8 feet in length and weigh around 700 pounds.

California sea lions have slender bodies, wide front flippers, and narrow snouts. Unlike true seals, they have small visible ear flaps. They can also turn their hind legs forward for more maneuverability on land. The males are dark brown to black, but females and juvenile sea lions are tan or light golden brown. They feed on a variety of small fish, squid, and sometimes clams. California sea lions are also known for their loud barking and playful behavior.

9. South American Sea Lion

Similar to the California sea lion, the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) is an intelligent, social marine animal that barks to communicate. Like all sea lions, these animals use their powerful fore flippers for propulsion through the water. These sea lions can reach 8.5 feet in length and weigh up to 770 pounds.

Like California sea lions, female South American sea lions have blonde or yellow coloration, while males are dark brown to black. They have slim bodies with large heads and upturned snouts. They primarily feed on fish, squid, octopus, and crustaceans. This species also has a large habitat range, extending south along the Pacific Ocean from Ecuador to Cape Horn and then back up the Atlantic side to southern Brazil.

8. Bearded Seal

The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) is the largest of all the Arctic seals. Their name comes from their short snouts and large, thick whiskers that give them the appearance of a beard. This seal grows to 7-8 feet in length and weighs 800 pounds. Unlike the sea lions above, the female bearded seals are generally larger than the males.

These seals are a silvery-grey to dark brown in color. They have square front flippers and small heads in proportion to their bodies. Bearded seals primarily feed on fish, snails, shrimp, and crab. This seal is found off the coast of Alaska in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas. They inhabit shallow water that is typically covered in ice.

7. New Zealand Sea Lion

The New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri), also known as Hooker’s sea lion, is only found in New Zealand. These sea lions can reach about 11.5 feet in length and weigh nearly 1,000 pounds. They have short noses and whiskers. Females are a light, creamy gray color with dark areas around their flippers. Males are black to brown and have long manes that extend to their shoulders.

New Zealand sea lions are non-migratory, and the Auckland Islands are their primary breeding area. These sea lions are proficient divers, able to reach depths of over 1,900 feet to forage for food. Their diet is similar to that of other seals, consisting of fish, squid, octopus, and crustaceans.

6. Weddell Seal

The Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) is the most southerly-ranging mammal in Antarctica. These seals grow to around 11 feet in length and weigh around 1,100 pounds, with the females being slightly larger. They are usually a dappled gray color with black on their backs and a mostly white underbelly. Weddell seals are noted for their relatively small heads when compared to the rest of their body.

Weddell seals live primarily on fast ice or ice that is connected to the land. They are not migratory, although there are rare sightings in Australia and New Zealand. Their diet consists of fish, shrimp, squid, and octopus. Weddell seals are excellent divers, capable of diving over 2,300 feet. They are able to remain underwater for as long as 45 minutes.

5. Leopard Seal

The leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is named after the spotted pattern on their skin, which is darker on top and lighter at the bottom. It is one of the largest seals in Antarctic waters. Females are larger than the males, reaching nearly 12 feet in length and over 1,100 pounds. They are typically found in Antarctic waters, but during the fall and winter, they range throughout the Southern Ocean around New Zealand.

The leopard seal is believed to be the only seal that regularly hunts and eats warm-blooded prey. This seal has massive jaws, sharp incisors, and a long, reptilian-like skull. It is a top predator in its environment and faces few threats from other animals. The leopard seal dines on a large variety of foods, including squid, krill, fish, and even some birds, including penguins.

4. Steller Sea Lion

The Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is the largest species of sea lion in the world. These sea lions can reach about 11 feet in length and 2,500 pounds, with the females being much smaller. They can be found in the coastal regions of the North Pacific Ocean, as far south as Hokkaido, Japan in Asia and California in North America. They share some of their habitat with the California sea lion and the northern fur seal.

Steller sea lions are lighter in color than other sea lions, ranging from a pale yellow to reddish-brown. Both sexes have long whiskers on their muzzles. Males have long, coarse hair on their muscular chests, shoulders, and backs. Instead of barking like other sea lions, Steller sea lions emit low-frequency roars. They are opportunistic feeders, with fish, octopus, and squid making up the bulk of their diet.

3. Walrus

The walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a unique, large-flippered marine animal. Walruses are the only living species in the family Odobenidae. However, there are two recognized subspecies: the Pacific walrus and the Atlantic walrus, with the Pacific walrus being slightly larger on average. Walruses can reach up to 12 feet in length and weigh as much as two tons. They have tough, reddish-brown hides. Both males and females have tusks, which are enormous canine teeth, but the males’ tusks are longer and thicker. Their tusks can grow over 3 feet long and weigh as much as 12 pounds. Walruses also have visible whiskers.

Pacific walruses are found along the coasts of Russia and Alaska, while Atlantic walruses are found in the eastern Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. They prefer shallow water and spend a lot of time on sea ice, where they hunt for clams, snails, shrimp, and crabs. They will also occasionally eat birds and seals.

2. Northern Elephant Seal

At number two on our list is the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), which can reach 13 feet in length and 4,400 pounds. Northern elephant seals are dark brown or gray. The most identifiable part of an elephant seal is the presence of a large, inflatable nose on the males, called a proboscis. When male seals reach maturity, they develop the proboscis, which overhangs their lower lips by as much as 8 inches. They also develop thick, calloused necks to protect themselves in dominance fights. Their inflatable proboscis allows sound to resonate when they threaten one another during the breeding season.

Their range is in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and they are commonly seen on beaches from California to Mexico. They have one of the longest known migrations, traveling over 13,000 miles round-trip. Their diet primarily consists of fish and squid, but they have also been known to dine on rays and some varieties of shark.

1. Southern Elephant Seal

The southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) is the largest seal on Earth. At 19 feet long and a maximum weight of over 8,100 pounds, it is six feet longer and 3,700 pounds heavier than its closest rival. The largest individual on record weighed 8,818 pounds and reached 21 feet and 4 inches after skin and blubber were removed. The southern elephant seal is sexually dimorphic, with the males being three to four times larger than the females.

Like the northern elephant seal, the southern elephant seal is identifiable by the large and drooping nose on the males. However, the southern elephant seal’s nose is slightly shorter than its northern cousin’s. The southern elephant seal inhabits the Southern Hemisphere around Antarctica, and it spends most of its life in the open ocean. Their diet of fish and squid is typical for seals. They are excellent divers, regularly diving over 1,600 feet for up to 30 minutes. The maximum depth ever recorded for a southern elephant seal was around 4,600 feet.