Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, Harbor Seals

dgoodboe, on February 3, 2009, said:

Nice photo, but these are Harbor seals, not CA sea lions. They can't swing their hind legs up under their pelvis to stand up, for one thing - their hind flippers point to the rear, and their front flippers are short and stubby. That's why seals have to scoot along on their bellies, which is what the one about to enter the water is doing. Also notice the variations in colors among the resting group. Sea lions are more uniformly some shade of brown, and prefer to climb up on rocks wherever possible, not lay on beaches near the tideline.

ludovic.ruat, on February 5, 2009, said:

Title corrected.

Thanks for the notice.

Regards Ludovic

John Pearse, on May 9, 2009, said:

These harbor seals are on the beach at Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, not Monterey.