Roughly 370 million years ago, fish-like creatures crawled onto land, setting the stage for life as we know it: amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. But some of their descendants eventually returned to the sea; seals, sea lions, and walruses—collectively called pinnipeds—still show hints of their terrestrial heritage.
Telling marine animals apart isn’t always easy, especially when they zip past in sleek, torpedo-like shapes. Walruses are hard to miss with their tusks and size, but when it comes to seals and sea lions, the differences are more subtle.
Have you ever wondered how to tell them apart? Then click on to discover the features that make each species unique.