Sea Lion Characteristics

California sea lion (Zalophus Californianus) - Key characteristics – interactions with humans – communications – Feeding habits – reproduction – threats - conservation

Introduction:

California Sea Lion, Zalophus Californians belongs to the family “Otariidae”. The animal is found along the coast of the eastern North Pacific.

The breeding of California sea lions takes place on islands off the coasts of California and Baja California.

They inhabit rocky and sandy beaches of coastal islands and mainland shorelines. They may frequent inhabit sandbars; sheltered coves; tide pools; and structures such as piers, jetties, and buoys. California sea lions live for an average of 15 to 25 years. However, they can live 30 or more years.

Characteristics:

Communications: It is believed that Sea Lions are among the most social animals in the world. They are very active when it comes to communication having plenty of ways to send and receive messages to and from each other.

California sea lions are among the most vocal of all animals, through vocalization they produce sounds include barks, growls, and grunts whether above and below water. Roaring is a way that sea lions use to protect their territory when they feel threatened and to keep humans and other animals away. The sea lions also bark and often use do that to interact with each other. Male sea lions barking is when they are looking for and attracting females before mating occurs. Added to that, the sea lion females use a specific vocalization during the mother-pup recognition sequence.

In regard to hearing, sea Lions are believed to have excellent hearing both on land and in the water being the most important senses especially in water where hearing is probably acute. For example, the pups are able to identify the calls and sounds on their mother’s instinctively. It is believed that from birth they are able to memorize what their mother sounds

It is believed that sea lions are capable to detect humans by smell over a long distance of hundreds of meters away.

The sea lions use their sensitive vibrissae to explore objects on land and in the water. They seek out physical touch with other sea lions and form groups and lye with each other on land.

Feeding habits: Sea Lions are carnivorous having fish being their favorite food including herring, mackerel, pompano, salmon, capelin and squid. They also feed on crabs and clams.

The quantity of fish consumed by sea lions depends on their size as well as the abundance of fish in their habitats. Sea lions may use their sensitive whiskers to locate food. They will generally hunt close to the shore as long as their food is sufficient otherwise they move to deeper water looking for food while they become vulnerable to their predators of Killer Sharks and Whales.

Sea Lion swallow their food without chewing or tear it into chunks using their sharp teeth. They also use their back teeth to break the shells on clams so that they can consume what is inside. The daily food consumption by adult California sea lions ranges from about 5% to 8% of their body weight per day which is equivalent to 7-18