Sea Lion

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For other uses, see Sea Lion (disambiguation).

Sea lion
A sea lion in Monterey, California
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Suborder: Pinnipedia Family: Otariidae Subfamily: Otariinae
Genera
Eumetopias Zalophus Otaria Neophoca Phocarctos

Hundreds of California Sea Lions sunbathing on Pier 39 in San Francisco.

A sea lion is any of several marine mammals of the family Otariidae. Sea lions are characterized by the presence of external ear pinnae or flaps, long front flippers, and the ability to walk on four flippers on land. Sea lions are generally found in coastal waters of the temperate to subpolar regions of both northern and southern hemispheres.

Sea Lions are often a popular attraction at zoos and aquariums, performing tricks such as throwing and catching balls on their noses and clapping.

When swimming, sea lions can reach up to 25mph.^{[citation needed]}

Sea Lions of many species have seen a severe and rapid decrease in numbers in recent years. Many factors including overfishing of other species, shooting by fishermen and pollution have probably contributed to the decline. The population of Steller's Sea Lions in Alaska has declined as much as 80% since the 1970s. ^{[1] [2]}

[edit] Taxonomy

• SUBORDER PINNIPEDIA
• Family Otariidae
  • Subfamily Arctocephalinae: fur seals
  • Subfamily Otariinae
    • Steller's Sea Lion, Eumetopias jubatus
    • California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
    • South American Sea Lion, Otaria flavescens
    • Australian Sea Lion, Neophoca cinerea
    • New Zealand Sea Lion, Phocarctos hookeri
• Family Phocidae: true seals
• Family Odobenidae: Walrus

A sea lion at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park

[edit] Hybridization

A hybrid sea lion from a cross between the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) and the South American sea lion (Otaria byronia) has occurred.

[edit] References

1. ^ Clover, Charles. 2004. The End of the Line: How overfishing is changing the world and what we eat. Ebury Press, London. ISBN 0-09-189780-7
2. ^ Dalton, Rex. 2005. "Is this any way to save a species?." Nature 436, 7 July 2005, 14-16.

[edit] External links

• Video of Sea Lions on the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, New Zealand