At any marine theme park, there are probably a bunch of seals and sea lions hanging out in their exhibits. Both animals have that chubby body and the same black eyes with big whiskers. For many, the sea lion performances are the stars of the show, although many people routinely refer to the performances as “seal shows.” Although most people are familiar with seals and sea lions, they don't know how to distinguish between the two species. Although both of these mammals share many abilities, these "second cousins" are markedly different from each other in many ways. Seals and sea lions have many anatomical differences and similarities. As mammals, pinnipeds are warm-blooded, breathe air with their lungs, have hair, carry live young, and females nurse their young, providing milk through their mammary glands. Looking at the exterior of the mammals, two identifiers at first glance distinguish these two species. They are the fins and ears. Seals have small furry flippers, "...thin flippers, actually, with a claw on each little toe" (National Ocean Service, What's the Difference) that are very weak, so they fall onto their belly to move on land. They move like a slowly moving caterpillar. When in the water, seals use their hind flippers to steer by moving them back and forth like a fish's tail. Sea lions, on the other hand, have large flippers with which all fours are used to stand up and crawl. They are better suited to life on land. However, when they swim, they use their powerful fins like paddles to propel their entire body in one streamlined motion. Unlike seals, sea lion flippers are hairless and lack claws. When it comes to ears, seals have a small hole on the side of their heads while sea lions have external flaps as ears. Another indicator... in the center of the paper......mfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/mmpa/>."Pinnipeds." The Marine Mammal Center:. Np, 2014. Web. 30 April 2014. "Seals and sea lions are marine mammals called 'pinnipeds' that differ in physical characteristics and adaptations." What is the difference between seals and sea lions? National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, April 21, 2014. Web. April 30, 2014. .Snyderman, Marty. "Pinnipeds, unplug." Underwater training. Dive Training and Web. May 26, 2014. .Toothman, Jessika. “What is the difference between a seal and a sea lion?” July 14, 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. April 30th 2014.