Phocidae
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
Author
Don E. Wilson
text
2014
2014-07-31
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 4 Sea Mammals
120
183
book chapter
62712
10.5281/zenodo.6607185
bb685fb0-4415-4054-9b2a-604129aab5b1
978-84-96553-93-4
6607185
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.