Do you know these fun facts about sea lions?
Fun Facts about Sea Lion! Sea lions are ubiquitous throughout the world and commonly observed by humans in bays, harbors, or at the zoo. They are highly intelligent and, in captivity, have been trained to perform many entertaining tricks. However, some of the most fascinating aspects of these charismatic species are better observed in the wild.
What do sea lions do to cool off?
However, laying on a rock and dipping a flipper in the water serves as a great way to cool off. The ice water cools the sea lion’s blood and brings their temperature down. And if that’s not enough, a quick swim will do the trick.
How do sea lions get enough oxygen?
Oxygen availability is prolonged by the physiological control of heart rate in the sea lions. By reducing heart rate to well below surface rates, oxygen is saved by reducing gas exchange as well as reducing the energy required for a high heart rate.
Why do sea lions jump out of the water?
A sea lion may raise a flipper out of the water to regulate its body temperature. Sea lions often "porpoise"; that is, they leap out of the water while swimming and re-enter headfirst. California sea lions share haul-out space with northern elephant seals, harbor seals, northern fur seals, and Steller sea lions.
Why do seals tilt their heads back?
While sleeping out of the water, both brain hemispheres are shut down. When resting in water, harbor seals can be seen in what we call the "bottling" position, with heads tilted straight back and perpendicular to the surface; thus assuming the appearance of a floating bottle.
Why do sea lions arch back?
The "true seals" have no external ear flaps, smaller front flippers and rearward facing hind limbs that are fused together into one scalloped flipper. They move across land by stretching their upper bodies out and arching their backs to pull themselves forward.
Why do seals put their nose in the air?
Seals use some special adaptations to help them survive without breathing underwater. Their nostrils pinch completely closed, keeping water from entering the lungs. When they open their mouth to catch prey underwater, their tongue moves back to cover the throat so no water can enter.
How do you know if a sea lion is in distress?
Symptoms include head weaving, disorientation, seizures and sometimes death. Roughly one-third of the California sea lions that received treatment at Marine Mammal Center last year were suffering from domoic acid poisoning.Apr 23, 2018
Why do sea lions stick their nose in the air?
The reason for this is because the capillaries are close to the surface of the skin and can catch sunbeams to warm their body. To cool down, they put their flipper into the water then raise it back up into the air which cools them off during the evaporation process.Jan 1, 2022
Why do sea lions bask in the sun?
The sun heats up the blood in the flipper, and that warm blood pumps throughout the sea lion's entire body, insulated by their blubber!
Do sea lions eat sea otters?
Other reported predators that feed on sea otters include stellar sea lions, coyotes, bears and eagles.
How long can sea lions hold their breath?
8 to 20 minutesHow long can a sea lion hold its breath? Sea lions can remain underwater for an average of 8 to 20 minutes. Unlike dolphins, sea lions exhale before diving. Naturally, their nostrils are closed, but they have special muscles to open them in order to breathe.
Why are sea lions so loud?
Calls are also produced when sea lions are out of the water on their terrestrial rookeries. Males bark profusely when defending their space and during mating. Female sea lions bark, squeal, belch, and growl when their pups are in danger. The females and pups are able to recognize each other's individual calls.Oct 19, 2020
Can sea lions hurt?
Sea lion attacks on humans are rare, but when humans come within approximately 2.5 meters (8 ft), it can be very unsafe. 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.
What do you do if a sea lion approaches you?
FAQ: What To Do If You See Stranded Sea LionDon't touch and do not pick up, pour water on or feed the animal. ... Do not return the animal to the water. ... Observe the animal from a distance of at least 50 feet. ... Note physical characteristics such as size, presence of external earflaps, and fur color.More items...•Mar 17, 2015
Do sea lions get beached?
The rocky and sandy shoreline is part of the natural habitat for a seal or a sea lion and healthy animals come ashore to rest, get warm, or to breed and have their pups. Any pinniped suspected of being sick or injured should be left alone until experienced personnel can assess the animal.
How do sea lions deal with extreme pressures?
One of the ways sea lions deal with the extreme pressures is by limiting the amount of gas exchange that occurs when diving. The sea lion allows the alveoli to be compressed by the increasing water pressure thus forcing the surface air into cartilage lined airway just before the gas exchange surface.
Why are sea lions declining?
Although sealing has been put to a halt in many countries, such as Uruguay, the sea lion population continues to decline because of the drastic effects humans have on their ecosystems. As a result, South American sea lions have been foraging at higher tropical latitudes than they did prior to human exploitation.
How does oxygen help sea lions?
By reducing heart rate to well below surface rates, oxygen is saved by reducing gas exchange as well as reducing the energy required for a high heart rate .
What is the family of sea lions?
Sea lions are related to walruses and seals. Together with the fur seals, they constitute the family Otariidae, collectively known as eared seals. Until recently, sea lions were grouped under a single subfamily called Otariinae, whereas fur seals were grouped in the subfamily Arcocephalinae.
Why do sea lions vigilance increase?
When humans come closer than 15 meters of a sea lion, the sea lions' vigilance increases because of the disturbance of humans.
How big is a sea lion?
The largest sea lion is Steller's sea lion, which can weigh 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) and grow to a length of 3.0 m (10 ft). Sea lions consume large quantities of food at a time and are known to eat about 5–8% of their body weight (about 6.8–15.9 kg (15–35 lb)) at a single feeding.
What is a sea lion?
Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all fours, short, thick hair, and a big chest and belly. Together with the fur seals, they comprise the family Otariidae, eared seals, which contains six extant and one extinct species ...
Why do sea lions have a thick skin?
This is because it has a very thick layer of fat beneath its skin (just like other animals such as polar bears ), which it uses to store energy and provide power to move easily through the water.
What are the characteristics of a sea lion?
Characteristics of sea lions. Firstly, sea lions and sea wolves aren’t the same. Sea lions are bigger, for a start. At the same time, they are both different to the seal, which has less thick skin and more fur, although of course they all belong to the group of pinniped mammals. The sea lion’s body has adapted so that it can retain its body heat ...
What do sea lions eat?
They are carnivores and eat a variety of different animals, such as squid, different species of penguins, fish and even baby seals or birds. Despite its large size, this animal is the prey of killer whales and large sharks. They may lose the battle against the former, however, some sea lions manage to escape from the latter, ...
Where do Steller sea lions live?
They live in the North Pacific, between Russia and Japan and also in Alaska. 3.
Do sea lions attack each other?
They only attack each other for territorial reasons and, of course, during the mating season.
How do sea lions find their own pups?
A mother sea lion may be gone for days at a time, but when she returns, she will be able to find her own pup, in a sea of sea lions, by calling for it with her own distinct vocalization. The pup has a distinct yelp of its own, and when it hears its mother nearby, begins to call to her desperately.
How intelligent are sea lions?
Like many marine mammals, sea lions are remarkably intelligent with excellent senses of sight, hearing and smell. In captivity, and when interacting with humans, they are extremely quick to learn, and have been exhibited in shows and circuses for centuries.
Why are sea lions called angels?
The sea lion is known as the "angel of the sea" because their front flippers look like angels wings while they are swimming and sometimes when they are sleeping. The trained seals seen in water parks and circuses are usually California sea lions.
What is a sea lion called?
Sea lions are known as eared or walking seals. A male sea lion is called a bull, a female is called a cow, and a baby is called a pup. A group of sea lions is called a colony on land, and a raft when in the water.
What is the difference between a sea lion and a seal?
what is the difference between sea lions and seals? sea lion running. Sea lions are members of the seal or pinniped family. The word pinniped means "flipper feet" or "feather feet" and includes three types of semi-aquatic marine mammals. The walrus, the "true seals" and the "eared seals" or "walking seals".
What is the family of sea lions?
Sea lions are 7 species of large marine mammals in the pinniped (seal) family. The sea lions ancient ancestors were land animals somewhat similar to bears. For reasons unknown these creatures returned to the ocean about 20 million years ago, where they have since become the most successful and widely distributed family of carnivores in the world. ...
What is the most lion-like species?
All sea lion species are carnivores with large canine teeth, or "fangs", and a muzzle full of stiff whiskers, and may also make loud roaring noises which are all lionesque features, but the most shockingly lion-like species is the incredible South American sea lion.
Why do sea lions dive?
Sea lions are capable of diving to deep depths in search of food. At depth, the pressure from water increases. This presents a risk due to the potential buildup of nitrogen gas in the tissues of animals, a phenomenon well-known to SCUBA divers. Many marine animals have special adaptations that allow them to inhabit these environments. While humans must return from depth slowly to allow the gases to escape their system at a reasonable rate, sea lions have specially adapted lungs that allow them to prevent the exchange of gases in their system while they are underwater.
What are some interesting facts about sea lions?
Fun Facts about Sea Lion! Sea lions are ubiquitous throughout the world and commonly observed by humans in bays, harbors, or at the zoo. They are highly intelligent and, in captivity, have been trained to perform many entertaining tricks.
What is the Lion of the Sea?
The Lion of the Sea. Perhaps fitting with their common name as the lions of the sea, sea lions are voracious predators and have seemingly insatiable appetites. They will often feed in groups and effectively gorge themselves before hauling out of the water onto a rocky shoreline to digest and rest.
What are some examples of adaptive behavior in sea lions?
Most are unique to their habitat and the prey available in it. For example, the Galapagos sea lion ( Zalophus wollebaek) has been demonstrated to engage in interesting herding behavior while hunting.
How big do sea lions get?
There are various species of sea lion belonging to five extant genera. The largest species is the Steller’s sea lion, which can weigh up to 2 200 lb (1 000 kg) and grow to a length of 10 ft (3.0 m). They are related to walruses and seals, but lack the long tusks ...
What do sea lions eat?
Depending on the species and the region, they will eat a variety of items including large fish species such as salmon and tuna. Where they both occur, sea lions will also feed on penguins.
How much do sea lions eat?
Sea lions are known to eat up to 8% of their body weight at a time. For a 180 lb human, this is the equivalent of eating 14.4 lb (6.5 kg) of food in a single meal. Sea lions can eat prey larger than their head, such as the large Pacific octopus, all at once.
What happens to sea lions when they get cold?
The blood vessels at the ends of the flippers are exposed. When a sea lion gets cold, they simply float at the surface of the water with their flipper in the air.
How cold can a sea lion swim?
A sea lion maintains a core body temperature between 95 and 98 degrees, which is only slightly lower than a person’s. Unlike a person, however, sea lions are capable of swimming all day in freezing cold water. How is that possible?
How thick is sea lion fur?
The first of these is a thick blubber layer, which is approximately an inch thick. Covering that blubber is tightly packed fur. Finally, oil is secreted from a sea lion’s skin. This oil waterproofs the fur, preventing water from getting through.
Do sea lions get cold?
In essence, a sea lion’s skin beneath the fur stays mostly dry, even while they are underwater! This combination of blubber, fur, and oil forms a very efficient wetsuit. These layers help keep the body heat in. But even with this wetsuit, a sea lion can get cold.
Can a sea lion overheat?
Thermoregulation works the opposite way as well. A sea lion lying on beach will overheat quickly (you would too if you weighed 500 pounds and was wearing a fur coat on the beach). However, laying on a rock and dipping a flipper in the water serves as a great way to cool off.
What are some interesting facts about sea lions?
Sea Lion Facts. Sea lions are swift swimmers, adept deep-water divers, exceptional aquatic hunters, and excellent surfers. On the tips of waves that surge onto the shores of the Galapagos Islands, their dark torpedo shapes can be seen gliding until the wave breaks. Then, they race back to find the next big wave.
Why do sea lions climb on kayaks?
At times, water pollution and over fishing have threatened the sea lion population. They will climb on top of kayaks to steal a fisherman’s fish.
How long do sea lions hold their breath?
Sea lions can dive up to 900 feet and hold their breath for up to twenty minutes.
What do sea lions eat?
The sea lions diet consists of fifty species of seafood. A sea lion with a camera mounted on its back revealed one sea lion hunting technique. During a chase, the sea lion kept biting off the legs of an octopus until the octopus could not swim; what was left was an easy meal.
How fast can a sea lion go?
They usually cruise the ocean at eleven miles per hour, but they can have a burst of speed to twenty-five miles per hour. The sea lions diet consists of fifty species of seafood.
How did sea lions get their name?
A few sources espouse the idea that the sea lion got its name because they have whiskers and they rule the sea. Another source claims the name sea lion caught on because they are agile carnivorous underwater hunters.
What is the largest portion of oxygen in a deep dive?
The largest portion of their oxygen supply on a deep dive is distributed to the heart and the central nervous system. Sea lions face multiple threats. A sea lion makes a sizable dinner for a killer whale or a great white shark. They are vulnerable to human activities such as fishing.
What are the activities of a California sea lion?
They often ride the surf, chase each other, push and shove each other off rocks, and practice territorial battles. Adults engage in these activities less often.
Where do California sea lions gather?
When in the water, California sea lions often form small groups. During the breeding season, California sea lions gather in rookeries for pupping and breeding.
What animals leap out of water?
Sea lions often "porpoise"; that is, they leap out of the water while swimming and re-enter headfirst. Interaction With Other Species. California sea lions share haul-out space with northern elephant seals, harbor seals, northern fur seals, and Steller sea lions.
How do males reaffirm their borders?
To reaffirm their borders males often engage in ritualized boundary displays. One such display is when two bordering males rush at each other, barking. When they reach the border they stop barking, fall on their chests, and, with mouths open, shake their heads from side to side.
What is the alarm reaction of a herd?
In response to sudden or unusual activity (such as a loud noise or rapid movement), one or a few individuals start toward the water. This begins a rush as the rest of the herd follows. This alarm reaction is less pronounced during the breeding season. Dominance behaviors are most aggressive during the breeding season.
Do California sea lions have social structures?
Social Structure. California sea lions do not have a stable social organization during the nonbreeding season (August through April). California sea lions are extremely gregarious and form large aggregations when on land. Individuals lie close to each other, or even on top of each other.
How to avoid sea lions?
Avoid approaching sea lions anywhere they may feel boxed in, or when another vessel is nearby. Always leave them an escape route. Be predictable. When viewing sea lions from a vessel, keep your motion predictable.
What happens when you feed sea lions?
When humans feed them, sea lions lose their natural wariness of people and associate them with food. Feeding them changes their natural behavior, decreasing their willingness to find their own food and increasing the chance they’ll steal fish (and gear) from fishermen (who can and have been injured as a result).
How far can you disturb sea lions?
Be aware that you can disturb them at distances greater than 100 yards as well, so use caution wherever and whenever you see them. Watch for changes in behavior. It’s up to you to watch for signs of stress in the sea lions; your presence shouldn’t cause any change in the animal’s behavior.
When do pups come to the shore?
Watch for pups. It’s especially important to exercise caution when there are pups, which are born on shore from around mid-May to mid-July . Mothers stay with their pups for the first 10–14 days, then begin regular foraging trips to sea, while their pups remain on shore.
Can sea lions be passed to other sea lions?
These behavioral changes may even be passed to other sea lions. The result is an increased risk of injury from boats, entanglement in fishing gear, and intentional harm by people frustrated with the behavioral changes. Watch your fish waste.
Can you feed sea lions in a harbor?
Ensure that harbor users don’t leave whole fish or discarded fish pieces where sea lions can reach them. Remind harbor users that feeding sea lions is illegal, and enforce a “no feeding” policy in your harbor. To learn more, see our Take the Lead, Do Not Feed brochure.
Overview
Physiology
There are many components that makeup sea lion physiology and these processes control aspects of their behavior. Physiology dictates thermoregulation, osmoregulation, reproduction, metabolic rate, and many other aspects of sea lion ecology including but not limited to their ability to dive to great depths. The sea lions' bodies control heart rate, gas exchange, digestion …
Taxonomy
Sea lions are related to walruses and seals. Together with the fur seals, they constitute the family Otariidae, collectively known as eared seals. Until recently, sea lions were grouped under a single subfamily called Otariinae, whereas fur seals were grouped in the subfamily Arcocephalinae. This division was based on the most prominent common feature shared by the fur seals and absent in …
Breeding and population
Sea lions, with three groups of pinnipeds, have multiple breeding methods and habits over their families but they remain relatively universal. Otariids, or eared sea lions, raise their young, mate, and rest in more earthly land or ice habitats. Their abundance and haul-out behavior have a direct effect on their on land breeding activity. Their seasonal abundance trend correlates with their breedin…
Interactions with humans
South American sea lions have been greatly impacted by human exploitation. During the late Holocene period to the middle of the twentieth century, hunter-gatherers along the Beagle Channel and northern Patagonia had greatly reduced the number of sea lions due to their hunting of the species and exploitation of the species’ environment. Although sealing has been put to a halt in many coun…
See also
• California sea lion
• Marine mammal
• List of carnivorans by population
• Otariids
• Phocids
Further reading
• Healy, Jack (March 2015). Starving Sea Lions Washing Ashore by the Hundreds in California. The New York Times