A Steller Sea Lion off the coast of British Columbia checks its surroundings to ensure there are no threats. SCO 7998
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. They have an average life span of 20–30 years. A male California Sea Lion weighs on an average about 300 kg (660 lbs) and is about 8 feet long, while the female sea lion weighs 100 kg (220 lbs) and is 6 feet long. The largest sea lion is the Steller's sea lion which can weigh 1000 kg (2200 lbs) and grow to a length of 10 feet. Sea lions consume large quantities of food at a time and are known to eat about 5-8% of their body weight (about 15 to 35 pounds) at a single feeding. 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. 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
Size: 4494px × 5447px
Location: Nanoose Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Canada.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: .., canadian, diet, ear, eats, endangered, fish, flaps, flippers, gregarious, halibut, herring, lions, noisy, octopuse, pacific, protected, range, rim, rockfish, salmon, sea, skate, squid, steller, vocal
