Fur Seals Eared Seals and Sea Lions: Otariidae - Physical Characteristics, Conservation Status, Antarctic Fur Seal (arctocephalus Gazella:): Species Accounts, California Sea Lion (zalophus Californianus): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET
otariids peru kilograms argentina
Otariids haul out on land near the waters they inhabit, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
When breeding or molting, shedding fur, otariids gather on rocky coastlines, sandy and gravel beaches, and caves. They also breed in mainland areas in Africa, Argentina, and Peru.
Otariids feed on krill, a small shrimp-like animal, fish, crustaceans like shrimps, crabs, and lobsters, mollusks such as clams, mussels, squid, and octopuses, and penguins. A small fur seal weighing 110 pounds (50 kilograms) consumes about 4 to 5 pounds (1.8 to 2.3 kilograms) of food per feeding.
Otariids are active both day and night. Expert divers, they swim to the deepest parts of the ocean floor to forage, find food. They breed annually, except for the Australian sea lion that breeds every seventeen-and-a-half months. Some species migrate far to rookeries, breeding colonies. Females give birth to one pup a year.
In the nineteenth century, fur seals were hunted for their fur, meat, and blubber. Today fishermen consider seals as competitors for fish. Seals' body parts may be used as aphrodisiacs, believed to increase sexual desire, or ornaments. Seals may be threatened by pollution caused by humans.
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The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the United States classify the Steller sea lion as Endangered, facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. They are at risk due to extensive commercial fishing of pollock, its major prey fish, human pollution, accidental tangling in commercial fishing gear, and hunting by humans. The IUCN lists many otariids as Vulnerable, facing a high risk of …
Physical characteristics: Antarctic fur seals have a thick waterproof underfur and an overcoat of long guard hairs. Bulls, adult males, are dark brown or charcoal-gray. A long mane of hair protects bulls when fighting over breeding territories. Bulls measure about 6 feet 7 inches (2 meters) long and weigh up to 440 pounds (200 kilograms). Adult females, cows, are smaller in size, about 4 feet 5 in…
Physical characteristics: California sea lions have a torpedo-like body, with flippers for swimming and moving on land. Males have brown or black fur, a bulky upper body, and a thick mane over the shoulders. A crest, or a distinctive bump on the forehead, is topped with blonde or light brown hair. They weigh as much as 772 pounds (350 kilograms). Females are much lighter, weighing up to 220 pounds…
Physical characteristics: Male Galápagos sea lions are dark brown to black, weigh up to 550 pounds (250 kilograms), and have a bump on the forehead. Females are lighter, weighing as much as 176 pounds (80 kilograms) and are tan or blonde in color. Geographic range: Galápagos sea lions inhabit the Galápagos Islands, a group of islands considered a province of Ecuador. Habitat: …
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