Free Flash Slideshow by cu3ox.com v1.1

Exploring the beautiful nature of California


California Nature: Sea Lions


California sea lions are known for their intelligence, playfulness, and noisy barking. Population is about 200,000 for the California subspecies; the Japanese subspecies is considered extinct. Their population is growing steadily, and California sea lions can be seen in many coastal spots such as the Monterey Coast Guard jetty and PIER 39 in San Francisco.

California sea lions are among the most gregarious marine mammals, forming dense aggregations of a thousand or more animals on land. They also may travel, socialize or rest at the surface in groups of ten or more near haul out areas. Sea lions produce loud roars help explain why they're named after lions. Males of some sea lion species even grow thick manes around their necks.

California sea lions are sometimes seen "porpoising," or jumping out of the water, presumably to speed up their swimming. The deepest dive ever recorded for a California sea lion is 1,760 feet. Sea lions have also been seen "surfing" breaking waves.
sea lions are found off the coast of California The color of California Sea Lions ranges from chocolate brown in males to a lighter, golden brown in females. Males reach 850 pounds and seven feet  in length. Some large males exceed 1,000 lpounds. Females grow to 220 pounds  and up to six feet  in length.

California Sea Lions have a "dog-like" face, and at around five years of age, males develop a bony bump on top of their skull called a sagittal crest. Mature males also tend to be a much darker brown color and are substantially larger than adult females. Unlike many other species of sea lion, California sea lion males lack a well-defined mane. The top of a male's head often gets lighter in color with age.

Like other "eared" seals, California sea lions have prominent external ear flaps and long fore flippers covered in fur past the wrist and tiny claws. The hind flippers are shorter and also have short claws at the ends of the digits. Sea lions are adapted for movement on land as well as in the water. Wing-like front flippers have a bone structure similar to that in our arms and hands. Swimming with these flippers propels the sea lion forward, while the hind flippers steer. Both pairs of flippers enable a sea lion to walk on land.
California sea lions reside in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean in shallow coastal and estuarine waters. California sea lions are found from Vancouver Island, British Columbia to the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico.

They breed mainly on offshore islands, ranging from southern California's Channel Islands south to Mexico, although a few pups have been born on Año Nuevo and the Farallon Islands in central California. Sandy beaches are preferred for haul out sites. In California, they haul out on marina docks as well as jetties and buoys.

There is a distinct population of California sea lions at the Galapagos Islands. A third population in the Sea of Japan became extinct, probably during World War II.
California se lions are lots of fun Most pups are born in June or July and weigh 13 to 20 pounds  They nurse for at least five to six months and sometimes over a year. Pups are well developed at birth. Their eyes are open, they can vocalize, and even swim a little. Several days after the pup's birth, the mother leaves the pup in the crowded rookery as she searches for food in the ocean.

When she returns, the mother emits a loud trumpeting vocalization, which elicits a bleating response from her pup. This exchange continues until the mother and pup find each other. She makes her final identification by smelling her pup. Pups are weaned at 10 months old.

Sea lions reach sexual maturity at 4-5 years old. Breeding season lasts from May to August. Males patrol territories and bark almost continuously during the breeding season. Three weeks after giving birth, females are ready to mate again.
California sea lions are opportunistic eaters. California sea lions feed mainly in upwelling areas on a variety of prey such as squid anchovies, mackerel, rockfish, and sardines. They also take fish from commercial fishing gear, sport-fishing lines, and at fish passage facilities at dams and rivers. In turn, sea lions are preyed upon by Orcas (killer whales) and great white sharks.

California sea lions are members of the "eared seal" family, Otariidae. They are the most recognized pinniped species, because they are commonly seen doing acrobatic tricks in shows at zoos and aquariums. It is believed that eared seals and walrus' descended from a bear-like ancestor that returned to the sea 30 million years ago in the North Pacific.

As for other marine mammals, the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 protects California sea lions.
Bats    Bears    Bison    Bobcat    Chipmunks & Squirrels    Deer & Elk    Feral Horses    Foxes    Gophers    Gray Wolf    Jaguar Mice & Rats    Mountain Lion    Porcupine    Rabbits & Hares    Raccoons    River Otter    Sheep     Shrews, Moles, & Opossum Skunks      Weasels & Minks     Wolverine and Badger
 
 
Website Created by Website Creations

About us      Privacy Disclaimer      Advertisers     Contact Us     Bookstore    Sitemap     Search    Floridian Nature