Sea lions are part of the pinniped group, which also includes seals and walruses.

This often leads to confusion between sea lions and seals, but a simple way to tell them apart is by observing their movement on land.

Sea lions have long, strong flippers that they can use to support themselves and move about, while seals’ shorter flippers prevent them from standing upright and make them less agile on land.

As marine mammals, sea lions divide their time between the water and the shore, and they tend to live and hunt in large groups. During the breeding season, only the dominant males are allowed to mate. These males compete fiercely for control of territories, with the victorious ones mating with an average of 16 females each season.

Sea lions are opportunistic predators, consuming large quantities of fish and helping to regulate the populations of various prey species. However, they are also an important food source for large predators such as great white sharks, hammerhead sharks, blue sharks, and killer whales.

Living in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, sea lions play a crucial role in nutrient cycling. As they haul out on land, they bring valuable nutrients from the ocean that fertilize the soil and benefit the surrounding ecosystems.

What is a sea lion's scientific name?

Sea lions belong to the Pinnipedia order, which also includes seals and walruses. Within this group, they are part of the Otariidae family, which encompasses all sea lions and fur seals. The name Otariidae comes from the Greek word for little ear, referring to their small external ear flaps.

There are six recognized species of sea lion:

1. Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea)

2. Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki)

3. New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri)

4. Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)

5. South American sea lion (Otaria byronia)

6. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)

Are sea lions endangered?

The conservation status of sea lions varies by species:

The Australian sea lion, Galapagos sea lion, and New Zealand sea lion are all listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Steller sea lion is classified as near threatened.

The South American sea lion and California sea lion are considered to be of least concern.

Additionally, the Japanese sea lion, once a native species, is now listed as extinct since it hasn’t been officially sighted since the late 1950s. This species was heavily hunted for its skin, whiskers, internal organs, and oil, and was also captured for the circus trade.

Where do sea lions live?

Sea lions are found around the world, with each species occupying its own specific range:

1. The New Zealand sea lion is found only in New Zealand.

2. The Australian sea lion lives along the western and southern coasts of Australia.

3. The Galapagos sea lion is mostly confined to the Galapagos Islands, though there is a semi-permanent colony near Ecuador’s Isla de la Plata.

4. The California sea lion has a much broader range, found along the western coast of North America from Alaska to Costa Rica.

5. The South American sea lion is found along the coast of South America, from Peru to the Falkland Islands.

6. The Steller sea lion inhabits the Bering Sea and both sides of the Northern Pacific Ocean, from Alaska to Rusia.

A Day of Seals and Sea Lions | The Aquarium: A Deeper Dive

The video by Animal Planet