What is the difference between sea lions & seals? Sea Lions Smooth whiskers Ear Flaps Long hairless front flippers & 3 toenails ONLY on the hindflippers. Rotate their hind flippers under their bodies, enabling them to walk or even run on land. Swim underwater by steering with hind flippers & powering with foreflippers like a bird. Sea Lion pup nursing Seals Bearded or crimped whiskers Short, fur-covered front flippers with long claws On land, hind flippers held straight, the animal moving by rolling forward on their bellies like a caterpillar Swim underwater by steering with foreflippers & powering with hind flippers Seal pup nursing Download the PDF