Sea lion

Sea lion
A sea lion in Monterey, California
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Suborder:
Family:
Genera

Eumetopias
Zalophus
Otaria
Neophoca
Phocarctos

Sea lions are several pinnipeds from the family Otariidae (eared seals). They live all around the world, except in the Atlantic Ocean.

Male sea lions have thick fur around the face and neck, which sometimes looks like a lion's mane. This is how they got the name "sea lion". Some, like the Steller sea lion, can roar. Sea lions are mammals, meaning they have fur, breathe air, give birth to live young, and feed milk to their young. Sea lions also eat meat, such as fish, squids, and sea birds. Sea lions are also fierce fighters.

Species

The pinniped species called "sea lion" are: [1]

  • Steller sea lion or northern sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
  • Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea)
  • South American sea lion or southern sea ion (Otaria flavescens)
  • New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri)
  • California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)

References

  1. ↑ Wynen L.P. et al 2001. Phylogenetic relationships within the eared seals (Otariidae: Carnivora): implications for the historical biogeography of the family. Mol. Phylog. Evol. 21 (2): 270–284. doi:10.1006/mpev.2001.1012. PMID 11697921.