sea lion

Any of several genera of seals of the family Otariidae (eared seals), which also includes the fur seals. These streamlined animals have large fore flippers which they use to row themselves through the water. The hind flippers can be turned beneath the body to walk on land.

There are two species of sea lion in the northern hemisphere, and three in the south. They feed on fish, squid, and crustaceans. Steller's sea lion Eumetopias jubatus lives in the North Pacific, large numbers breeding on the Aleutian lslands. Males may be up to 3.4 m/11 ft long, with a thick neck with a characteristic mane, and weigh up to one tonne. Females are one-third the weight. The Californian sea lion Zalophus californianus only reaches 2.3 m/7 ft, and is the species most often seen in zoos and as a ‘performing seal’.

The Australian sea lion Neophoca cinerea is found only in southern Australian waters, especially on offshore islands such as Kangaroo Island. It is one of the larger sea lions; males weigh up to 300 kg/660 lb, three times as much as females, and are 2 m/6.5 ft long. The New Zealand sea lion Phocarctos hookeri, of similar size, is found mainly on Auckland Island, 322 km/200 mi south of New Zealand. It is the rarest sea lion, with only about 12,000 existing in 1998.

Cannibalism was observed in the New Zealand sea lion Phocarctos hookeri for the first time by New Zealand researchers in 1999. Males were observed taking pups and eating them. Cannibalism was previously unknown in seals and sea lions. Southern sea lion Otaria flavescens males also abduct and kill pups but are not known to eat them.