What a beautiful seal! That is the most common statement among our guests. It is also the most common mistake! Galapagos has two species of sea lions. Both belong to the Otaridae, or eared seal family. Unlike true seals (Phocidae) the sea lions have small but visible ears and use their front flippers for swimming. They also have enough strength in their flippers to support the front part of their body in the characteristic sea lion pose. True seals use their hind flippers for propulsion and their front flippers seem almost useless on land.
After explaining all of the above to our guests, we make a deal with them: one beer for every time they call them seals! Unfortunately, it is easier and faster to call them seals than sea lions, so if we would make this bet come true, we might end up drunk by the end of the week!
