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 A sea lion in Monterey, California
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Sea lions are any of seven species in six genera of modern pinnipeds including one extinct (the Japanese sea lion). 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. 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 Atlantic Ocean. They are generally found in shallow waters of coastal areas with abundant food resources.1
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Taxonomy
Together with the fur seals, they comprise 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 dense underfur characteristic of the latter. Recent genetic evidence, however, strongly suggests that the Callorhinus, the genus of the Northern fur seal is more closely related to some sea lion species than to the fur seal genus Arctocephalus.2 Therefore the fur seal/sealion subfamily distinction has been largely eliminated. Nonetheless, all sea lions have certain features in common, in particular the coarse, short fur, greater bulk and larger prey than fur seals.
Interactions with humans
Some species of sea lions 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.
The government of Japan has set a quota of 116 kills per year in Hokkaido,citation needed as sea lions are seen as a threat to commercial fisheries. International environmentalistswhich? and local fishery advocateswho? continue to debate the issue.
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.456 In San Francisco where an increasingly large population of California sea lions crowds docks along San Francisco Bay, there have been incidents in recent years of swimmers being bitten on the leg by large aggressive males, possibly as a territorial act[1][2].
The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped the sea and its animals. They often depicted sea lions in their art.7
Species
- SUBORDER PINNIPEDIA
- Family Otariidae
- Genus Arctocephalus (southern fur seal species)
- Genus Callorhinus (northern fur seal)
- 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
Hybrid
A probable hybrid sea lion from a cross between the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) and the South American sea lion (Otaria byronia) was reported in the a 2002 issue of the Journal of Mammology, according to the French National Center for Scientific Research. [3]
See also
References
- ^ "ANIMAL BYTES - Sea Lions & Fur Seals". Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
- ^ Wynen, L.P. et al. (2001) Phylogenetic relationships within the eared seals (Otariidae: Carnivora): implications for the historical biogeography of the family. Mol. Phylog. Evol. 21, 270–284
- ^ Watkins, Thomas (2007-02-12). "Navy may deploy anti-terrorism dolphins". Associated Press. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
- ^ BBC News: Sea lion attacks Australian girl
- ^ news.com.au: Monster sea lion likely to be 'playing' with teen
- ^ Sea lion mauls girl
- ^ Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1997.
External links
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