Pinniped family tree
Pinnipeds is the extended seal family. This includes 34 species. Many of these are quite similar, but there are clear families within the clad.
First divide is between seals with external ears and those without.
Earless seals are then divided between northern hemisphere (phosinae) and southern hemisphere (monachinae), while the eared seals are divided between fur seals and sea lions (Otariidae ) and the walrus (only member of Odobenidae).
Earless seals Eared Seals
So Dealing with these families one by one, we will start with the family Moarchinae
This contains the Monarchini genus (which consists of the monks seals), Miroungini (which consists of the Northern and Southern Elephant seal) and finally Lobodontini (which consists of 4 seal species, the Ross seal, Crabeaters seal, and the closely related species the Weddled seal and the Leopard seal)
Moarchinae
The other family in earless seals is Phocinae. The bulk of the seals in this group lie in the genus Phocini. Only the Bearded and Hooded seal lie in this group but outside this genus
Phocinae
The other half of the family consists of the eared seals, which consist of fur seals and sea lions (in Otaridae), as well as the walrus in Odebenidae.
So, first the eared seals: these consist of the sea lions and the fur seals. Below is the fur seals
Fur seals
Finally, the sea lions
And lastly Walrus
Odobenidae
In many places, these species are relatively easy to find, whether you need to take a boat trip, or merely go for a walk along the right stretch of shore. We are keen to help seal tourism worldwide, do reach out, and we can promote your tourism. You will find a form to fill in at the top of the page, under list your wild place.
Also, there is a plugin on each page, which should show news related to each species.