Any of various pinniped mammals constituting the family Phocidae, comprising the true seals, and distinguished from the eared seals by the lack of external ears and the inability to walk on all four limbs.
Origin
Mid 19th century.
Definition of earless seal in US English:
earless seal
noun
Any of various pinniped mammals constituting the family Phocidae, comprising the true seals, and distinguished from the eared seals by the lack of external ears and the inability to walk on all four limbs.