seal \seal\ s=el, n. oe. sele, as. seolh; akin to ohg.
   selah, dan. sael, sw. sjauml, icel. selr. zool.
   any aquatic carnivorous mammal of the families phocidae and
   otariidae.
   1913 webster

   note: seals inhabit seacoasts, and are found principally in
         the higher latitudes of both hemispheres. there are
         numerous species, bearing such popular names as sea
         lion, sea leopard, sea bear, or ursine seal,
         fur seal, and sea elephant. the bearded seal
         erignathus barbatus, the hooded seal cystophora
         cristata, and the ringed seal phoca foetida, are
         northern species. see also eared seal, harp seal,
         monk seal, and fur seal, under eared, harp,
         monk, and fur. seals are much hunted for their
         skins and fur, and also for their oil, which in some
         species is very abundant.
         1913 webster

   harbor seal zool., the common seal phoca vitulina. it
      inhabits both the north atlantic and the north pacific
      ocean, and often ascends rivers; -- called also marbled
      seal, native seal, river seal, bay seal, land
      seal, sea calf, sea cat, sea dog, dotard,
      ranger, selchie, tangfish.
      1913 webster
see also:
phocidae otariidae sea lion sea leopard sea bear ursine seal 
fur seal sea elephant erignathus barbatus cystophora cristata phoca foetida 
eared seal harp seal monk seal fur seal eared 
harp monk fur harbor seal phoca vitulina 
marbled seal native seal river seal bay seal land seal 
sea calf sea cat sea dog dotard ranger 
selchie tangfish 

tangfish \tang"fish`\, n. zool.
   the common harbor seal. prov. eng.
   1913 webster