Home›Species›Taxonomy›PhocidaeTaxaPhocidaeMammal FamiliesReference and ClassificationThoroughly VerifiedThe earless (true) seals: marine carnivores lacking external ear flaps, with hind flippers that cannot rotate forward, making them far less mobile on land than the eared seals but often more efficient swimmers. Phocidae includes the elephant seals, the largest seals of any family.FactsPhocidaeConnectionsSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsDisputedMember Species/Taxa CountScholarly debate19 2Approximate described-species (or, for a genus, described-taxon) count; continually revised as species are newly described, reclassified or synonymized.Taxonomic RankWell-attestedFamily 2Scientific NameWell-attestedPhocidae 2ClassificationLiving or ExtinctWell-attestedYes 1PhocidaeFilter Results12 entriesHabitatAllCoral Reef (1)Intertidal Zone (2)Marine (2)Neritic Zone (1)Open Ocean (5)Sea Ice (3)Conservation StatusAllEndangered (1)Least Concern (6)Near Threatened (2)Vulnerable (3)EcosystemAllAntarctic Peninsula (4)Arctic Ocean (3)Mediterranean Basin (1)Ross Sea (2)Svalbard (1)DietAllCarnivore (1)Filter Feeder (1)Piscivore (10)System (Realm)AllMarine (12)Relationship to PeopleAllHunted or Fished (11)No Significant Interaction with Humans (1)Living or ExtinctAllYes (11)Where It LivesAllAfrica (2)Argentina (2)Australia (4)Belgium (4)Brazil (3)Canada (3)Chile (2)Colombia (1)Denmark (3)Ecuador (1)Germany (1)Greece (1)Morocco (1)Mozambique (1)Namibia (1)Netherlands (1)New Zealand (5)North America (5)Norway (4)Poland (1)Portugal (1)South Africa (2)South America (2)South Asia (1)Spain (3)Sweden (1)Ukraine (1)United Kingdom (1)Uruguay (2)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 12Bearded SealPhocidaeCrabeater SealPhocidaeGrey SealPhocidaeHarp SealPhocidaeHawaiian Monk SealPhocidaeHooded SealPhocidaeLeopard SealPhocidaeMediterranean Monk SealPhocidaeRibbon SealPhocidaeRoss SealPhocidaeSouthern Elephant SealPhocidaeWeddell SealPhocidaeConnectionsChild Taxon OfCarnivora, Taxa Well-attested Source Catalogue of LifeParent Taxon OfBearded Seal, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Erignathustier 2Crabeater Seal, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Lobodontier 2Grey Seal, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Halichoerustier 2Harp Seal, Species Well-attested Source Catalogue of LifeHawaiian Monk Seal, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Hawaiian Monk SealHooded Seal, Species Well-attested Source Hooded Seal (Wikidata)tier 2Leopard Seal, Species Well-attested Source Catalogue of LifeMediterranean Monk Seal, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Monachustier 2Ribbon Seal, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Histriophocatier 2Ross Seal, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Ommatophocatier 2Southern Elephant Seal, Species Well-attested Source Catalogue of LifeWeddell Seal, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Leptonychotestier 2Sources1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)tier 2Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ25587, descriptionView the Source2. Catalogue of LifeSpecies 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeView the SourceWikidata: PhocidaeWikidata Q25587, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the SourceWikidata: Halichoerustier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Grey Seal, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Erignathustier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Bearded Seal, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Lobodontier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Crabeater Seal, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Ommatophocatier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Ross Seal, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Leptonychotestier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Weddell Seal, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Histriophocatier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Ribbon Seal, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceHooded Seal (Wikidata)tier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Hooded Seal, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Monachustier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Mediterranean Monk Seal, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Hawaiian Monk SealParent Taxon Of: Hawaiian Monk Seal, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.