California Sea LionsCalifornia Sea LionsZalophus CalifornianusZalophus Californianus

By Josh Gustavus & Candyce CooleyBy Josh Gustavus & Candyce Cooley

• The Sea Lion is considered to be a pinniped which means The Sea Lion is considered to be a pinniped which means that it features a winged foot. that it features a winged foot.

• There are seven known Sea Lion species that have been There are seven known Sea Lion species that have been identified identified

• The California Sea Lion is the one most people are The California Sea Lion is the one most people are familiar with. familiar with.

• The males are called bulls and the females are called The males are called bulls and the females are called cows.cows.

• Their offspring are called pups.  Their offspring are called pups.  • A large group of Sea Lions is referred to as a colony A large group of Sea Lions is referred to as a colony • The average life span in the wild for a Sea Lion is 18 The average life span in the wild for a Sea Lion is 18

years. In captivity they live an average of 23 years. years. In captivity they live an average of 23 years. • Sea Lions get there name because of the their loud roars Sea Lions get there name because of the their loud roars

they produce like lions.they produce like lions.

• They can swim at They can swim at up to 25 MPH up to 25 MPH which most people which most people don’t realize. don’t realize. Generally they only Generally they only move about 10 move about 10 MPH unless they MPH unless they feel threatened.feel threatened.

• Sea Lions may Sea Lions may appear lazy but appear lazy but they simply enjoy they simply enjoy relaxing and relaxing and basking in the sun.basking in the sun.

The California sea lions The California sea lions can be found mostly in can be found mostly in the warmer climates of the warmer climates of California and Mexico California and Mexico but can be found from but can be found from Vancouver Island to the Vancouver Island to the tip of Baja in Mexico. tip of Baja in Mexico. There used to be a There used to be a group of California sea group of California sea lions found in Japan but lions found in Japan but they became extinct they became extinct during World War II.during World War II.

• California sea lions are predators that obtain all their California sea lions are predators that obtain all their food from the sea. They feed on more than 50 species food from the sea. They feed on more than 50 species of fish and cephalopods, feeding primarily on squid, of fish and cephalopods, feeding primarily on squid, octopus, hake, northern anchovy, opal eye, and octopus, hake, northern anchovy, opal eye, and herring.herring.

• California sea lions eat about 5% to 8% of their body California sea lions eat about 5% to 8% of their body weight per day equivalent to 15-40 lb. weight per day equivalent to 15-40 lb.

• They don't chew their food. They swallow it whole or They don't chew their food. They swallow it whole or tear it into chunks. tear it into chunks.

• Like other Sea Lions they only feed on items found in Like other Sea Lions they only feed on items found in the ocean. They aren’t picky about what they the ocean. They aren’t picky about what they consume as long as they get to eat large amounts consume as long as they get to eat large amounts each day each day

A Sea Lion is able to A Sea Lion is able to dive up to 600 feet for dive up to 600 feet for food in the water. They food in the water. They can remain under the can remain under the water for up to 40 water for up to 40 minutes before they minutes before they must surface for air. must surface for air. This is accomplished This is accomplished by pinching their by pinching their nostrils together nostrils together instinctively as they instinctively as they enter the water. They enter the water. They will remain closed until will remain closed until they need to take a they need to take a breath breath

• The gestation period for a The gestation period for a female to carry a pup is 11 female to carry a pup is 11 months. months.

• They tend to breed on the They tend to breed on the same section of beach same section of beach year after year year after year

• Most California Sea Lion Most California Sea Lion pups are born in June or pups are born in June or JulyJuly

• Most pups weigh between Most pups weigh between 13 & 20 pounds at birth 13 & 20 pounds at birth and are about 75 cm longand are about 75 cm long

• Pups are well developed at Pups are well developed at birth. birth.

• They are born with their They are born with their eyes open and can eyes open and can vocalize. vocalize.

• Within 30 minutes they are Within 30 minutes they are able to shake, groom, able to shake, groom, scratch, and walk. scratch, and walk.

• The female may smell, The female may smell, nuzzle, pull, and nip at her nuzzle, pull, and nip at her puppup

• Pups appear to be able to Pups appear to be able to swim at birth, although swim at birth, although their movements are not their movements are not well coordinated. well coordinated.

• Mothers recognize pups in Mothers recognize pups in crowds through smell and crowds through smell and vocalizations. vocalizations.

• Pups learn to recognize the Pups learn to recognize the smell and vocalizations of smell and vocalizations of their motherstheir mothers

• Male California Sea Lions reach about 6.5–8 ft and weigh Male California Sea Lions reach about 6.5–8 ft and weigh 440–880 lb.440–880 lb.

• Female California Sea Lions reach about 5–6.5 ft and weigh Female California Sea Lions reach about 5–6.5 ft and weigh 110–240 lb. 110–240 lb.

Fore FlippersFore Flippers

The fore flippers have all the major skeletal The fore flippers have all the major skeletal elements of the forelimbs of land mammals, but elements of the forelimbs of land mammals, but they are modified for swimming. The "arm" bones they are modified for swimming. The "arm" bones are shortened, and the flippers are lengthened at are shortened, and the flippers are lengthened at the tips of the finger bonesthe tips of the finger bones

Hind FlippersHind Flippers

• Like land mammals, Like land mammals, sea lions have five sea lions have five digits in the hind limbs.digits in the hind limbs.

• On land, a sea lion can On land, a sea lion can rotate its hind flippers rotate its hind flippers underneath the pelvic underneath the pelvic girdle, enabling it to girdle, enabling it to support its weight and support its weight and walk on all fours. walk on all fours.

• In the water, a sea lion In the water, a sea lion extends its hind extends its hind flippers and uses them flippers and uses them to help steer.to help steer.

TailTail

A California sea lion has a small, flattened tail A California sea lion has a small, flattened tail between the hind flippersbetween the hind flippers

They are very They are very flexible due to the flexible due to the design of their design of their bodies. As you can bodies. As you can see they are able see they are able to bend so that to bend so that their noses touch their noses touch the tip of the back the tip of the back flippers. flippers.

BehaviorBehavior• All species of Sea Lions are All species of Sea Lions are

very social, but the very social, but the California Sea Lions seem to California Sea Lions seem to be even more so. They can be even more so. They can become a very noisy group become a very noisy group with such large numbers of with such large numbers of them hanging out in one them hanging out in one location. They will pack in location. They will pack in close together even though close together even though they have plenty of other they have plenty of other room to spread out if they room to spread out if they wanted to.wanted to.

• They are sometimes seen They are sometimes seen jumping out of the water, jumping out of the water, presumably to speed up presumably to speed up their swimming.their swimming.

They are known to They are known to be the most be the most intelligent of all Sea intelligent of all Sea Lions. This is why Lions. This is why they are the ones they are the ones trained for trained for entertainment as entertainment as well as for the well as for the needs of the United needs of the United States Navy. They States Navy. They are often called are often called upon to help with upon to help with tasks that have to tasks that have to be completed under be completed under water.water.

• Sea lions have three main predators the Sea lions have three main predators the Killer Whale, Large Sharks, and humans.Killer Whale, Large Sharks, and humans.

• The biggest threat of course would be The biggest threat of course would be humans both on land and in water.humans both on land and in water.

• Many researchers believe that the sea lion Many researchers believe that the sea lion can easily swim faster then killer whales can easily swim faster then killer whales and sharks. However it is often the element and sharks. However it is often the element of surprise that results in them being prey of surprise that results in them being prey for these predators.for these predators.

• California sea lions continue California sea lions continue to be shot by fishermen over to be shot by fishermen over competition for fish, competition for fish, particularly salmon. particularly salmon.

• Pesticides and heavy metals Pesticides and heavy metals in the ocean are also harmfulin the ocean are also harmful

• Marine debris is a big threat.Marine debris is a big threat.• They can become entangled They can become entangled

in nylon fishing nets or in nylon fishing nets or plastic packaging materials, plastic packaging materials, causing severe injury or causing severe injury or drowning. Sea lions also drowning. Sea lions also ingest plastic debris, which ingest plastic debris, which can cause obstructions in the can cause obstructions in the digestive tract. digestive tract.

Even though the California Sea Lion Even though the California Sea Lion isn’t considered to be in danger at this isn’t considered to be in danger at this time, there are efforts in place to time, there are efforts in place to protect them. California laws are in protect them. California laws are in place to try to reduce the number of place to try to reduce the number of them that are injured or killed in them that are injured or killed in boating accidents. They also strive to boating accidents. They also strive to keep the waters clean and to make keep the waters clean and to make sure humans aren’t intentionally sure humans aren’t intentionally harming them harming them

Work cited pageWork cited page

• www.Seaworld.org/animai-linfowww.Seaworld.org/animai-linfo

• www.Sealion-world.comwww.Sealion-world.com

• www.Marinemammalcenter.orgwww.Marinemammalcenter.org

• www.Nmfs.Noaa.govwww.Nmfs.Noaa.gov