2 Types of Seals in California
2 types of seals have a verified observation record in California. The most frequently recorded are Harbor Seal and Northern Elephant Seal. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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2 types of seals have a verified observation record in California. The most frequently recorded are Harbor Seal and Northern Elephant Seal. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Verified species, source iNaturalist
2 types of seals recorded in California
2 seals species have a verified observation record in California, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
| # | Species | Scientific name | Verified records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harbor Seal | Phoca vitulina | 21,577 |
| 2 | Northern Elephant Seal | Mirounga angustirostris | 10,944 |
Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
The Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) is the most commonly recorded, with 21,577 verified observations — about 66% of all seals reported in California. If you spot a seal here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.