Living pinnipeds mainly inhabit polar and subpolar regions, particularly the North Atlantic, the North Pacific and the Southern Ocean.
They are entirely absent from Indomalayan waters.
Monk seals and some otariids live in tropical and subtropical waters.
Seals usually require cool, nutrient-rich waters with temperatures lower than 20 °C (68 °F).
Even those that live in warm or tropical climates live in areas that become cold and nutrient rich due to current patterns.
Only monk seals live in waters that are not typically cool or rich in nutrients.
The Caspian seal and Baikal seal are found in large landlocked bodies of water (the Caspian Sea and Lake Baikal respectively).

As a whole, pinnipeds can be found in a variety of aquatic habitats, including coastal water, open ocean, brackish water and even freshwater lakes and rivers.
Most species inhabit coastal areas, though some travel offshore and feed in deep waters off oceanic islands.
The Baikal seal is the only freshwater species, though some ringed seals live in freshwater lakes in Russia close to the Baltic sea.
In addition, harbor seals may visit estuaries, lakes and rivers and sometimes stay as long as a year.
Other species known to enter freshwater include California sea lions and South American sea lions.
Pinnipeds also use a number of terrestrial habitats and substrates, both continental and island.
In temperate and tropical areas, they haul out on to sandy and pebble beaches, rocky shores, shoals, mud flats, tide pools and in sea caves.
Some species also rest on man-made structures, like piers, jetties, buoys and oil platforms.
Pinnipeds may move further inland and rest in sand dunes or vegetation, and may even climb cliffs.
Polar-living species haul out on to both fast ice and drift ice.
Living pinnipeds mainly inhabit polar and subpolar regions, particularly the North Atlantic, the North Pacific and the Southern Ocean. They are entirely absent from Indomalayan waters. Monk seals and some otariids live in tropical and subtropical waters. Seals usually require cool, nutrient-rich waters with temperatures lower than 20 °C (68 °F). Even those that live in warm or tropical climates live in areas that become cold and nutrient rich due to current patterns. Only monk seals live in waters that are not typically cool or rich in nutrients. The Caspian seal and Baikal seal are found in large landlocked bodies of water (the Caspian Sea and Lake Baikal respectively).
As a whole, pinnipeds can be found in a variety of aquatic habitats, including coastal water, open ocean, brackish water and even freshwater lakes and rivers. Most species inhabit coastal areas, though some travel offshore and feed in deep waters off oceanic islands. The Baikal seal is the only freshwater species, though some ringed seals live in freshwater lakes in Russia close to the Baltic sea. In addition, harbor seals may visit estuaries, lakes and rivers and sometimes stay as long as a year. Other species known to enter freshwater include California sea lions and South American sea lions. Pinnipeds also use a number of terrestrial habitats and substrates, both continental and island. In temperate and tropical areas, they haul out on to sandy and pebble beaches, rocky shores, shoals, mud flats, tide pools and in sea caves. Some species also rest on man-made structures, like piers, jetties, buoys and oil platforms. Pinnipeds may move further inland and rest in sand dunes or vegetation, and may even climb cliffs. Polar-living species haul out on to both fast ice and drift ice.
Pinniped