The walrus and the sea lion are closely related to each other. This explains why there are some people who can become a bit confused between the two. They have the same special characteristics. For example, walruses are known to have large flippers. Walruses will not have external ear flaps.
One obvious difference between the two is that walruses will come with tusks while sea lions will not have tusks. Walruses are also bigger as compared to sea lions. In fact, walruses are known to be the largest pinnipeds that you can find right now.
Sea lions and walrus have identical body shapes. Their disparities lie in their physical structures. The sea lions possess external pinnae and a flipper, which is long. Sea lions walk on all their four flippers when on land, but they do not have dense underfur. In the Odobenus genus, the walrus is the only species that is living; unlike the sea lions, which do not have dense, walrus possess tusks and whiskers. Possession of tusk and stiff whiskers are the main characteristic attribute which differs walrus from sea lions. Sea lions are smaller in size when compared with walrus. The external ear is absent in the walrus. Walrus depends very much more on its body to swim. Sea lions are found in the subarctic and tropical waters in the two hemispheres, while walrus are found in the artic and subarctic oceans only in the northern hemisphere. Baby sea lions are referred to as pups, while for walrus calves.
Walruses and sea lions are closely related to each other. This explains why a lot of people often confuse the two. The walrus will have a tusk and whiskers while the sea lion will not have any. Another thing that you will notice is that the sea lion will have an external sea flap while the walrus will not have this external ear flap. Another difference is that the walrus would need to make use of their bodies more while they are swimming. Sea lions will make use of their flippers while they are swimming. They can also be seen in various places. Walruses can be seen in the Arctic ocean while sea lions can be seen in tropical waters.
Charlie Rogers, Manager, Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS), Lexington, Kentucky
Answered Jul 23, 2020
Sea lions and walrus are two types of animals. They both can be found around waters and at a close glance, can look alike because the same type of body shape. Though they are both found around waters, the type of waters they are found around are different.
Walrus is found in colder waters, such as the arctic, while sea lions are found in warmer, tropical waters. Other differences between these two types of animals are features of their body. A walrus has whiskers and tusks. A features that sea lions have that walrus do not have are external ears.
When you see sea lions and walruses, you might not immediately think that they are different from each other, but actually, they are. One difference is that sea lions are known for their huge flippers. They have the ability to rotate their flippers, which is why they have the ability to walk on land whenever they can. The walrus comes with winged feet, which makes it easier for them to move around. If you would look at their body features closely, you will notice that they also have a lot of differences that will become evident. Sea lions will come with external ear flaps, and their front flippers are also going to be different.
Although differentiating between sea lions and walrus can be very easy; however, both have similar body shapes, and they are often grouped as Pinnipeds. Having established some of their similarities, there are still so many differences between the two. One of these differences is that both have different habitats. Unlike the walrus that is usually found in the arctic and subarctic seas, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, the sea lion is usually seen in the tropical and subarctic waters.
Another way of differentiating between the two is by comparing their body features. One of these differentiating features is the presence of tusks and whiskers in the walrus, whereas these are absent in sea lions. Another differentiating feature is the presence of external ear in sea lions, but this body feature is absent in the walrus. Another difference is that the babies of the two marine mammals are called with different names. The younger ones of the walrus are known as calves, whereas the younger ones of sea lions are known as pups.