The male Sea Lions also compete for territory and food because of the shortage of food. A total of 81 island and mainland breeding sites have been recorded. Also, the fur of eared seals is more apparent, especially in sea lions.…. Males are 2.0–2.5 metres in length, females 1.5–2.0 metres. Australian sea lions are known to live for up to 25 years. Brown pups are born after a gestation period of 12 months. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. And if the first species differs little from its southern counterparts (since it lives in the subtropics and it does not need to store the stores of subcutaneous fat), the Steller’s sea lion occupied a vital niche in the rather high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The species ranges along the … Three species, the Australian sea lion, the Galápagos sea lion and the New Zealand sea lion, are listed as Endangered. South American sea lions eat mostly fish, squid, and crustaceans but occasionally kill and eat other seals. Sea lions are hunted, though not on a large scale, for their meat, hides, and blubber. The maximum recorded dive depth is 274 metres (900 feet). This unattractive coat and meager stores of fat saved the sight of sea lions from being exterminated by humans. Australian sea lions live mainly in isolated bays as well as on ocean and sandy beaches. The California sea lion shares the genus Zalophus with the Galapagos sea lion (Z. wollebaeki). Except for the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), males have lion-like manes and constantly roar to defend their harems (hence their name). Individuals may move between subgroups throughout their lifetime. The largest colonies are found on the Pages Islands, Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island and on the Dangerous Reef in the Spencer Gulf. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... What’s the Difference Between Seals and Sea Lions? Galapagos Sea Lion – very large, with the males being about 1,000 pounds when they are full grown. The five genera of sea lions, together with fur seals (genus Arctocephalus) and northern fur seals (Callorhinus), constitute the family Otariidae (eared seals). Hunting them is not as profitable as seals and other seals, although in Japan the endemic species of these animals was completely destroyed. Sea lions feed principally on fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods (squid and octopus), but they also will consume penguins. They only live in Australian waters — along the Western Australian and South Australian coast — where there are estimated to be only 9900 to 12,500. The Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) is found along the southern coast of Western Australia into South Australia. In addition to being able to close the meatus when diving, their pinnas have been greatly reduced or essentially lost, a feature of streamlining for rapid progress through the water.…, … (family Otariidae), which comprise the sea lions and fur seals. Beneath our blubber, aren’t we all just the same? Pups are generally weaned around 18 months, usually when the mother is set to give birth to a new pup. Australian sea lions are sparsely distributed across their range which reaches from the Houtman Arbrolhos Islands (28°S, 114°E) in Western Australia along the southern Australian coast to The Pages Islands (35°46’S, 138°18’E) in South Australia. It swims in coastal waters from northern Peru southward to Tierra del Fuego and even around the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. Living in large colonies, they often form subgroups that are more intimate than the bigger pack. Individuals have been known to wander several kilometers inland though the reasons remain unclear. Even on land, they are quite active and deftly moving, and in the water and do show the wonders of circus acrobatics. The sea lion, an otariid, is plentiful in the Falkland Islands but probably never ventures into the cold Antarctic waters. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Also it can be found on the Commander Islands and the Aleutian Islands, Alaska and the coast of North America up to California. The area of their distribution includes islands, offshore of Australia; these sea lions are found from Western Australia to islands in southern Australia. The Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) is found along the southern coast of Western Australia into South Australia. Australian Sea Lion – Males are dark brown with a light yellow mane around their heads. Breeding occurs in large herds, the males establishing harems of 3 to 20 females. How To Clean A Rabbit & Cage – Complete Owners Guide, The Best Rabbit Carrier Buyers Guide – 2020, Best Rabbit Hay Feeders – Buyers Guide For 2020, The Best Rabbit Hay – 2020 Guide & Reviews, The Best Rabbit Water Bottle Guide – 2020. He lives in Russia on the Kuril Islands, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, Kamchatka, Sakhalin. The male sea lions are also one of the main reason why the most Sea Lion pups do not live past 2. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Unlike the true, or earless, seals (family Phocidae), sea lions and other eared seals (family Otariidae) are able to rotate their hind flippers forward to use all four limbs when moving about on land. Adult males are 2.0–2.5 metres in length and weigh 300 kg, whereas females measure 1.5 metres long and weigh less than 100 kg. A lively and informative new podcast for kids that the whole family will enjoy! Australian sea lion It is one of the least known because its colony is small and it is located in an area that is not accessible to man, in the islands of southwestern Australia. This is a Californian lion and a sea lion. The Australian Sea Lions also have predatory relationships with other animals. But to the north of the equator such animals are also common. Large-eyed and playful, it is pale to dark brown but appears black when wet. There is an opinion that sea lions live only in the Southern Hemisphere. The males can be as long as 11 feet and weigh 2,500 pounds. In captivity it can live more than 30 years (less in the wild). 66 breeding colonies have been identified: 28 in Western Australia and 38 in South Australia. There they are three species – on the habitat: Australian, New Zealand and southern, found off the coast of Africa and Latin America. 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