Seals and Sea Lions

[deckardcanine]

The seal and the sea lion, pinnipeds both,
Get mixed up on a regular basis.
Here’s one easy way to tell one from the other:
No ear flaps exist on seals’ faces.
In case you’re too distant to get a good look
At the ears, try the flippers instead:
The sea lions’ front ones are fleshy and long,
Rather helpful for swimming ahead.
The hind ones turn forward and under the bodies
For walking around in the sand.
The seals’ little flippers have fur and long claws.
They must crawl on their bellies on land.
Though they don’t swim as fast as the sea lions can,
They seem better equipped for the ocean,
Being typically smaller and aquadynamic,
Propelled by a rear-wiggling motion.
The seals go alone when they’re not out to mate,
While the sea lions like a big crowd,
Often more than a thousand, and thus it makes sense
That they bark more (and really get loud).
The sea lions’ coats range from tan to dark brown;
Many seals come in black, gray, or white.
That pretty well covers the clearest distinctions;
I trust you can label them right.