Seals are part of the class known as pinnipeds, marine mammals distinguished by their fins. Two of the families are known as seals, the earless true seals, and the eared versions known as sea lions and the fur-bearing family. As with alligators and crocodiles, the two are often confused by individuals and in popular culture. As most Muppet seals have fur, the distinction inherently blurs anyway. However, The Animal Show, with its more zoological approach, included both a sea lion (eared, episode 110) and an elephant seal (the earless family, episode 204).
The third member of the pinniped class, which is its own family, is the walrus.
Seals on The Muppet Show, featured in "Jambalaya"
also appeared on The Ghost of Faffner Hall, "The Voice Is an Instrument"
also appeared on The Ghost of Faffner Hall, "The Voice Is an Instrument"
Wolfgang the Seal
reused as other seals on Sesame Street
reused as other seals on Sesame Street
Other seals[]
- Two seal acts were meant to perform on The Muppet Show, but never appeared: Sonia and Her Singing Seals in episode 101 and Adolf Nureyev's trained seals in episode 204.
- A baby seal appeared in the Mopatop's Shop episode "Horns"
- Jim Henson's Creature Shop built an animatronic seal for the stage version of Doctor Dolittle.