. The land and sea mammals of Middle America and the West Indies . on by Cetaceans, such as the various species of Orcas or KillerWhales, etc. Of their skins, that of the Fur Seal is most valuable,but the species is rapidly verging towards extinction. Certain ofthese aquatic animals are of enormous size, some, like the Walrus,weighing nearly a ton. Fam. I. 4>tarii<lsi^. Sea-lioiii$. Aquatic carnivora. with the limbs inclosed in the general tegu-ment beyond the knees and elbows. Five digits on each limb, thefirst and fifth of the hind limbs generally the longest and stoutest,those of the
. The land and sea mammals of Middle America and the West Indies . on by Cetaceans, such as the various species of Orcas or KillerWhales, etc. Of their skins, that of the Fur Seal is most valuable,but the species is rapidly verging towards extinction. Certain ofthese aquatic animals are of enormous size, some, like the Walrus,weighing nearly a ton. Fam. I. 4>tarii<lsi^. Sea-lioiii$. Aquatic carnivora. with the limbs inclosed in the general tegu-ment beyond the knees and elbows. Five digits on each limb, thefirst and fifth of the hind limbs generally the longest and stoutest,those of the front limbs decreasing in size from first to fifth. Bodvand neck elongate; fore feet nearly as large as the hind feet, thelatter capable of expansion, and with distinct claws on the threemiddle digits; front feet without claws; tail very short; when walkinghind feet are turned forward under the body, supporting it; earsexternal; interorbital constriction of skull gi^eat; facial portion short,rather broad; two central pairs of upper incisors with a transverse 538. OTARIIDiE. ZALOPHUS. 539 groove; postorbital processes developed; alisphenoid canal present;testes external in a scrotum. The Sea-lions are among the largest of aquatic animals, a full-grown male being over thirteen feet in length, and with an averageweight of one thousand pounds. They are generally found in largeherds, sunning themselves, or sleeping on the rocks near the sea, intowhich they j^lunge when alarmed. The sound of their deep growling,or loud roars, is constantly vibrating among the rocky islands towhich they are accustomed to resort, and betrays their presence toany one in the vicinity. Sea-lions are not courageous as a rule inthe presence of man, and make the most violent efforts to escape ifon land, but once in the water their curiosity overpowers to a greatdegree their fears, and they swim about, lifting themselves half outof water at times, in order to obtain a good look at the unwelcomeintruder. They
Size: 1487px × 1679px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectmammals, bookyear1904
