sea lion

Otariids Temporal range: Late Oligocene – Recent
California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Suborder:	Caniformia
Superfamily:	Pinnipedia
Family:	Otariidae

Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all fours, and short, thick hair. Together with the fur seals, they comprise the family Otariidae, or eared seals. There are six extant and one extinct species (the Japanese sea lion) in five genera. Their range extends from the subarctic to tropical waters of the global ocean in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with the notable exception of the northern Atlantic Ocean.^[1] They have an average life span of 20–30 years.

Taxonomy

Steller sea lions haul out on a rock off the coast of Raspberry Island (Alaska)

Together with the fur seals, they constitute the Otariidae family, collectively known as eared seals. Until recently, sea lions were grouped under a single subfamily called Otariinae to distinguish them from the fur seals Arcocephalinae, based on the most prominent common feature between all species, namely the lack of the dense underfur characteristic of the latter. Recent genetic evidence, however, strongly suggests Callorhinus, the genus of the northern fur seal, is more closely related to some sea lion species than to the other fur seal genus, Arctocephalus.^[2] Therefore, the fur seal/sealion subfamily distinction has been eliminated from many taxonomies. Sea lions are related to the walrus and the seal. Nonetheless, all fur seals have certain features in common: the fur, generally smaller sizes, farther and longer foraging trips, smaller and more abundant prey items and greater sexual dimorphism. All sea lions have certain features in common, in particular their coarse, short fur, greater bulk and larger prey than fur seals. For these reasons, the distinction remains useful.

• Suborder Pinnipedia
  • Family Otariidae
    • Subfamily Arctocephalinae
      • Genus Arctocephalus (southern fur seal; 8 species)
      • Genus Callorhinus (northern fur seal; 1 species)
    • Subfamily Otariinae
      • Genus Eumetopias
        • Steller sea lion, E. jubatus
      • Genus Neophoca
        • Australian sea lion, N. cinerea
      • Genus Otaria
        • South American sea lion, O. flavescens
      • Genus Phocarctos
        • New Zealand sea lion or Hooker's sea lion, P. hookeri
      • Genus Zalophus
        • California sea lion, Z. californianus
        • Japanese sea lion, Z. japonicus - extinct (1950s)
        • Galapagos sea lion, Z. wollebaeki
  • Family Phocidae: true seals
  • Family Odobenidae: walrus

Interactions with humans

Some species of sea lion are readily trainable and are often a popular attraction at zoos and aquariums. The archetypal circus "seal" performing behaviors such as throwing and catching balls on its nose and clapping is almost always a sea lion.^{[citation needed]}

Sea lions have been trained by the U.S. Navy's Marine Mammal Program, based in San Diego, to detain scuba divers.^[3]

Sea lion attacks on humans are rare. In a highly unusual attack in 2007 in Western Australia, a sea lion leapt from the water and seriously mauled a 13-year old girl surfing behind a speedboat. The sea lion appeared to be preparing for a second attack when the girl was rescued. An Australian marine biologist opined the sea lion may have viewed the girl "like a rag doll toy" to be played with.^[4][5][6] In San Francisco where an increasingly large population of California sea lion crowds dock along San Francisco Bay, there have been incidents in recent years of swimmers being bitten on the legs by large, aggressive males, possibly as territorial acts.^[7][8][9]

The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped the sea and its animals. They often depicted sea lions in their art.^[10]

Sea lions have also been reported to assist or save humans who show signs of distress in the open waters. In June 2000, Kevin Hines leaped into the San Francisco bay; he reportedly was saved by a sea lion that kept him afloat and breathing until the paramedics arrived.^[11]

Images

A gathering of more than 40 sea lions off the coast of California	A military sea lion on board a US navy ship	A sea lion at the Memphis Zoo

See also

• California sea lion
• Marine mammal
• Otariids
• Pinniped

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Otariidae

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