The type species of
Homiphoca,
H. capensis, was originally described as a species of the dubious
delphinoid Prionodelphis,
P. capensis. Later analysis in 1980 showed that
P. capensis was a pinniped and not a cetacean, necessitating erection of the new genus
Homiphoca. Cladistic analysis places
Homiphoca as a member of Lobodontini, which includes the crabeater, Weddell, Ross, and leopard seals. ==Fossils==