Family PHOCIDAE

(EARLESS SEALS)

• Streamlined, robust amphibious marine mammals with no underfur, and no external ear flaps; sexual dimorphism highly variable.

• 110-500 cm.

• All major oceans, and a few enclosed seas and lakes.

• Mainly polar and subpolar waters, but some temperate to tropical waters, estuaries, and freshwater lakes.

• 13 genera, 18 species, at least 26 extant taxa

.

• 2 species Critically Endangered, 1 species Endangered, 1 species Vulnerable; 1 species Extinct since 1600.