Learn About Seals and Sea Lions

1. There are five species of sea lion. The one most often seen in zoos and circuses, is the Californian sea lion.
2. The Califorian and Steller sea lions live in the Northern Hemisphere the others live in southern oceans near the South American and Australasian coasts.
3. They are often referred to as eared seals because of their small ears.
4. They are expert swimmers and divers.
5. They can catch fish under water.
6. They use their long, sensitive whiskers to help detect prey.
7. On land they can move with great speed using thier flippers.
8. Their blubber and soft gristly ribs protect them from harming themselves when they go down cliff-sides and over rocks.
9. They are naturally playful and can be trained to do simple tricks.
10. Sea lions breed in colonies on beaches.
11. Each bull stakes out his own territory and herds a group of females around him.
12. The single young is guarded carefully by its mom until it can swim and fend for itself.
13. Sea lions are unpopular with fisherman because they blame them for damaging the fish stocks.
14. Californian sea lions seem to prefer squid to fish.
15. Australian sea lions prey on penguins.
16. Steller sea lion scientific name is Eumetopias Jubatus.
17. Steller sea lion family is Otariidae.
18. Steller sea lion class is Marine Mammal.
19. Stellar sea lion is the largest member of the Otarliidae.
20. Steller sea lions are suffering massive, population losses making them endangered.
21. A male Steller sea lion average weight is 2,000 lbs and a females is 600 lbs.
22. They have very thick, yellowish-brown fur when they are dry.
23. Steller pups are black and weigh 30lbs.
24. The sea lion pups are dark brown to black until when they molt to a lighter brown.
25. The pups, called "yearlings" turn to the same color as their parents by their second year.
26. Steller pups only stay with their mother for about one year.
27. Bulls become mature between 3 and 8 years old.
28. Bulls can't usually hold their own territory successfully until 9 or 10 years old.
29. Females can become pregnant for the first time at 4 to 6 years of age, having at a most 1 pup each year.
30. Steller sea lions are opportunistic predators.
31. They feed primarily of fishes and cephalopods.
32. Seasonally they feed near shore on squid,octopus,fish,mackerel and salmon.
33. Steller sea lions sometimes also preys on seals and sea otter pups.
34. Steller sea lions gather at breeding areas called "rookeries" in the spring.
35. Mating occurs during June and July.
36. In august, the males leave the rookeries.
37. Most males remain in northern waters all year while, the females and the pups migrate as far south as Baja California and Mexico.
38. California sea lions are social animals.
40. They can be seen resting close together at chosen " haulout" sites or floating together on the ocean surface in groups called "rafts".
41. Sea lions, fur seals, seals and walruses are called pinnipeds, which means, feather feet in Latin.
42. Their stream line bodies and flippers allow them to move quickly through sea water which is eight times denser than air.
43. California sea lions eat whatever is available: squid, octopus, herring, rockfish, smelt, hake and lampreys.
44. The California sea lion males establish and protect their territories on land and water during June and July.
45. The the best territories are the ones where many females come to give birth.
46. California sea lions are known for their intelligence, playfulness and noisy barking.
47.They are members of the eared family of Otariidae because they have visible external ear flaps and the ability to rotate their hind flippers forward, using all flippers to walk on land.
48. California sea lions are not on the endangered species.
49. The difference between a male and female is a bump or "crest" the males develop on their heads about five years of age.
50. As the males get older the fur on their crest and around their whiskers gets lighter.
51. Adult Male California sea lions can reach 1,000 lbs and 7 feet in length.
52. Adult females can grow to 350 lbs and 6 feet in length.
53. California sea lions look more like dogs than lions.
54. They "bark" and their young are called pups.
55. The body of the California sea lions is so pliable that they can practically bend over backward and touch their nose to the tips of their back flippers.
56. Killer whales and great white sharks are the California sea lions greatest predators.
57. Man cotributes to sea lion deaths through ocean pollution, illegal shooting and entanglement in nets.
58. California sea lions are often mistaken for dolphins when they jump out of the water to make faster time swimming.
59. Young sea lions are sometimes seen riding waves along the shore like human body surfers.
60. California sea lions had a population off the coast of Japan but it was hunted to extinction.
61. California sea lions usually breed on offshore island from the Channel Islands near Santa Barbara to Mexico.
62. They occasionally breed on Ano Nuevo and the Farallon Island in Northern Calfornia.
63. Unlike other marine mammals, seals and sea lions can live for long periods both in the ocean and on land.
64. They hear well both in air and underwater.
65. Special contracting nose muscles allow California sea lions to seal there noses closed.
66. They can remain submerged for 10 to 15 minutes but they are mammals so they must surface for air.
67. California sea lions females and pups can recognize each other mainly through smell vocalizations.
68. California sea lion pups are born in June or July.
69. They weigh 12 to 14 lbs at birth and nurse at least 5-6 months.
70. Like human hands, sea lions flippers have five skeletal digits.
71. These digits are not always visible in sea lions from a distance.
72. California sea lions are various shades of chocolate brown.
73. Their pups are born with a black coat, after about three weeks they grow their brown fur which they will lose or molt every year.
74. Males are usually darker in color than females.
75. California sea lions are polygamous.
76. A mature male may breed with 3 to 40 females in a season, depending on his size and strength.
77. California sea lions are warm-blooded animals with a thick layer of blubber to insulate them against the cold.
78. Their short fur mainly serves to protect their skin when " hauling out" on rocks.
79. Sea lions tear profusely to cleanse their eyes of excessive salt and other impurities.
80. They do not cry.
81. They see much better underwater, on land they are somewhat nearsighted.
82. California sea lions in wild may live up to 18 years.
83. Those in captivity have been known to live 23 years or more.
84. The Steller sea lion is twice the size of the size of the California sea lion.
85. The Steller sea lion is threatened species.
86. California sea lions can swim up to 25 mph in short bursts.
87. They often dive to depths of 360 feet, with recorded maximum dives reaching 800 feet.
88. California sea lions are a creature of habit and usually return to the same territories.
89. California sea lions are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
90. It is unlawful for unathorized persons to feed, handle or harass them.
91. Like humans, sea lions and other marine mammals can develop diseases such as pneumonia, cancer and epilepsy.
92. One of the biggest dangers to sea lions today is becoming entangled in plastic pollution.
93. California sea lions coexist with seals by always resting a few feet away, giving the seal its space.
94. California sea lions will bite if provoked.
95. Don't ever approach a Beached sea lion or seal.
96. All sea lions propel them selves through the water using their long front flippers.
97. Their back flippers act as stabilizers and are not used much in swimming.
98. You can tell the difference between sea lions and seals because sea lions have visible external ear flaps and walk on their flippers while on land and seals have small ear holes and they crawl on their bellies on land.
99. Thousands of sea lions congregate on crowded rookeries all at one time.
100. The more we learn about California sea lions the better we are to help other threatened species like the Steller sea lion.

Antarctic,_sea_lion_(js)_64.jpg (JPEG Image, 492x768 pixels)

Unlike other seals found in Antarctica, Fur Seals are not true seals. They are from the eared seal family. They reside on the rocky shores of islands found in western Antarctica and average adults weigh 350 pounds (160 kilos). Although extremely sociable among other Fur Seals, they are known to bit humans without provocation and move well enough to outrun humans on land. These poor manners were not helped by the fact that Fur Seals were heavily hunted during the 19th century. At one point, their total population was reduced to a few thousand. Fur Seals were placed under protection at the beginning of this century and have made a remarkable recovery. Their breeding season begins in December and takes place in very large, dense colonies. At colonies on South Georgia Island, seal populations increase by an average of 17% a year. This translates to their population doubling every five years.

Image:Krabbenfresser.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Despite their name, Crabeaters eats mainly krill; crabs form only a small portion of the seals' diet. Crabeaters live at the edge of pack ice and are normally solitary animals. However during the breeding season, they will form small family groups consisting of the mother, father and a pup.



The Crabeater seal accounts for over half of the world's seal population. Estimates place the Crabeater's population in excess of 30 million. Its population explosion is possibly due to the decline of whales, the Crabeater's chief competition for krill.



The Crabeater's main predator is the killer whale (or orca). Occasionally whales will bump an ice floe which has seals on it in order to knock seal into the water. Leopard Seals also prey on the Crabeater, although typically only on the young.

Leopard Seals are the largest of the true Antarctic seals. (Southern Elephant Seals are more common on islands near and above the Antarctic Convergence, although they do venture south to the actual continent.) Leopard Seals can grow to over 11 feet long (3.4 meters) and weigh, on average, 1,200 pounds (540 kilos). They are rather easy to identify due to the reptilian-like head, long sinewy neck, and arched thorax.

Although commonly found on pack ice, leopard seals spend a good deal of their time patrolling the shores of penguin rookeries. Warm-blooded animals account for nearly 40% of the leopard seals' diet. Typically, they feed on penguins and small Crabeater seals. The remainder of their diet consists of krill (approximately 40%), fish, squid, and other invertebrates.

Visitors Get Close-up View of Leopard Seal on Iceberg in Cierva Cove, Antarctic Peninsula Photographic Print

Rose, Hugh

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Because of its tendency to live on heavy pack ice where ships cannot pass, little is known about this species. What is known is they're nearly as large as Leopard Seals. Females Ross Seals can reach 11 feet in length (3.3 meters) and weight an average of 420 pounds (190 kilos). As with most Antarctic seals, males tend to be smaller.

Ross Seals are identified by the short heads and rather large eyes. Also, there often are strips starting at the chin and running along the sides of the neck to the chest. Their diet consists mainly of fish and squid, although they're not opposed to eating other invertebrates.

Due to the lack of knowledge about them as well as their infrequent sightings, Ross Seals are protected under the Antarctic Treaty.

These are the big daddies of the Antarctic beach. Elephant Seals can tip the scale at a hefty 7,900 pound (3,600 kilos) and measure up to 15 feet (4.5 meters). They commonly are found throughout the sub-Antarctic islands, although some colonies are located near the continent. Being larger in this specie, males dominate the breeding process. They, first, battle with other males to establish territory on the beach. To the victor goes the spoils; this includes harems which can include up to 50 females. Breeding colonies are terribly cramped for space. These multi-ton beasts lie next to and on top of each other. Often, pups are crushed under the weight of adult seals. In order to satisfy their huge appetites, Elephant Seals dive deep into the ocean and feed on various forms of fish and squid.

Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga Leonina), Antarctica Photographic Print

Jonathan, Chester

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One of the more commonly sighted seals, Weddells often are found in groups. Some of these groups contain several hundred seals, although this typically occurs during their breeding season (September to November). During this time, males engage in numerous territorial battles. Unlike other species, these seals prefer to lie on snow and ice even when open land or rock is available. This trait, along with their desire to avoid Orcas, is one of the primary reasons Weddells are found on inland fast ice around the continent. During the winter months, Weddells must maintain diving/breathing holes in the ice in order to feed. Feeding primarily on fish, Weddells can dive in excess of 1,000 feet (300 meters) in search of food. To make these long dives possible, they carry five time the amount of oxygen in their blood as human do. To get the most from this, Weddells slow their heart rate and limit blood circulation to vital organs such as the brain, kidneys, and liver.

Weddell Seal (Laptonychotes Weddellii), Antarctica, Antarctica Photographic Print

Jonathan, Chester

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One of the commonest seals, ringed seals live in the Arctic seas, though an isolated population also lives in the Baltic Sea. They are the smallest species of seal, about 130 cm in length and weigh about 70 kg. The colour of their skin is light to dark grey with dark spots ringed with white. Their diet varies widely, but mainly consists of small cod and crustaceans. Ringed seals mate on ice. The pups are born from mid-March to mid-April. The mother makes a den or lair under the snow to protect the pups from bad weather or possible attacks by polar bears.

At birth, the young pups have a long white coat which is later replaced by dark fur.

Rare Photograph of a Newborn Ringed Seal Photographic Print

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Fur seals belong to the family of eared seals. There are 9 species of fur seals, of which 1 lives in the northern hemisphere and 8 in the southern hemisphere. The northern fur seal is larger than its southern cousins. Male northern fur seals are 2 m long on average, and weigh 180-270 kg (females are smaller). They have a thick undercoat of soft fur, protected by longer coarser hair. The colour of the body varies from silver to dark brown, depending on whether it is dry or wet. Their flippers are brown, hairless and leathery. The nails of the hind flippers are used for grooming the dense fur. Northern Fur seals are noisy animals that feed on herring, pollocks, squid and floating shrimps. They breed between September and October. New-born pups have black woolly hair which is shed after 6 to 7 weeks. The entire breeding life of these seals is less than 20 years. Their life span is about 30 years.

Northern Fur Seals, St. Paul Island, Alaska, USA Photographic Print

Sutton, William

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Two Pacific Walruses Photographic Print

Walker, Harry

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There are 2 sub-species of Walrus: the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) and the Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus). Walruses live mainly in shallow coastal waters in the Arctic region. They are found off Alaska, northern Canada, the Chukchi sea in Russia, and western Greenland. Each year they migrate, following the ice south in winter and north in summer. Hey Good Looking! The walrus would certainly never win a beauty contest! It has a pair of long, curved tusks and bristly, drooping hair on its upper lip which gave rise to the term 'walrus mustache'. The tusks are long upper canine teeth which have several uses: to stir up food from the sea bed, to fight other males, and to help the walrus clamber up onto ice. Males display and spar with their tusks for a favored position at the breeding site. Older males bear many scars from these battles

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Atlantic walrus raising their young on the pack ice in Foxe Basin Photographic Print

Nicklen, Paul

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The hooded seal is so-named because of the adult male's large elastic nasal cavity, or 'hood', that extends from the nostrils to the forehead. It is used for display and as a warning during the breeding season. These large mammals are uncommonly aggressive for a seal. Males occasionally exceed 3 m (10 ft.) in length and 400 kg (880 lb.) in weight. Females average about 2 m (6.5 ft.) and usually weigh about 160 kg (352 lb.). They have been reported to live for as long as 30 to 35 years. The hooded seal population is distributed in the North Atlantic from Russia to Canada. In early spring they travel down around the Maritimes on the pack ice in order to breed and have their pups. The hooded seal has the shortest lactation period of any mammal. The pups nurse for less than 4 days, during which time they double their birth weight of about 24 kg (53 lb.). The hooded seal diet consists of mussels, starfish, squid, shrimp, herring and cod. Aside from humans, who hunt them for their skin, their principal predator appears to be the killer whale.

Portrait of a Hooded Seal Pup on the Ice Near Its Mother Photographic Print

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Bearded seals are found in arctic and subarctic waters. They are rarely found on land. They spend most of the time in the water in areas of unstable (moving) ice. They also sometimes "ride" on the moving ice. This means they usually sleep in the water or on the ice. Pups are born on the ice. The name "bearded" refers to the long whiskers of the seal. When they're dry, the whiskers curl around the mouth. Bearded seals can be gray to dark brown. Bearded seals are also usually found alone. Like other seals, though, when seen in the company of other seals - they're just in the "same place at the same time" (not actually socializing). Kind of like when we go to the store. There may be other people there, but we're not with them. Bearded seals have thick claws. They use their claws, while under water to dig through the ice to create a hole to breathe air. These holes are often called, "breathing holes." How do they avoid predators? Bearded seals are camouflaged. They can also dive under water to or climb up on the ice to avoid danger. However, it is hard for any animal to hide from a polar bear because they can go on land or in the water. They're known to hunt seals from their breathing holes, too. And, killer whales are known to slide out on to ice floes or tip them over to capture prey. I guess their best protection is not to be at the same place at the same time as a predator! Tubby, tubby two by four....and it's a good thing! How do you stay warm when you swim with the ice? Bearded seals can have blubber as thick as 7 cm. From late fall to the early spring the bearded seals are their fattest. During this time they're almost as wide as they are long. In fact, their "waist" measurement can be as much as 83% of their body length. No wonder polar bearsand killer whales hunt them!

Bearded Seal on Ice Floe, Nunavut, Canada Photographic Print

Soury, Gerard

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A Gray Seal Glides Toward the Camera Photographic Print

Skerry, Brian J.

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These large seals inhabit remote islands and shoals on both sides of the northern Atlantic. In North America most live along the Canadian Maritime provinces, although smaller numbers are found along the shores of New England. Their distinctive long nose has earned them the name of "horsehead." Their scientific name means "hook-nosed pig of the sea." Grey seals have color patterns that are similar to, but bolder than those of harbor seals.

Grey seals are sexually dimorphic in size. Males grow to 8 feet and weigh about 800 pounds, while females are smaller, growing to 7 feet and weighing about 400 pounds. Female grey seals are estimated to live to at least their mid 30's. Males are estimated to reach only their mid 20's, which may be a result of the fierce competition between males for mating rights with the females. The mating system for grey seals is polygynous (poly = many; gyny = female), in which males mate with many different females. Mating occurs on land and at sea. The nearest grey seal pupping area is in Nantucket Sound, on Muskeget Island, west of Nantucket Island.

Breeding takes place on rocky or sandy islands or land fast ice after pups are weaned. Newborn pups averaging 3 feet and weighing about 35 pounds are born in January and February. Pups are born with a creamy white coat called lanugo ( a reminder of their ancestral association with ice), which is shed shortly before the mother leaves them at about 3 weeks of age. Unlike the harbor seal, grey seal pups are rather helpless, staying on land in the birth area while the mother attends to them. The mother will leave the pup to feed, and upon return will recognize her offspring by its unique smell. Mothers are fiercely protective of their young.

One of the smallest members of the "true seal" family, unique in that they are found exclusively in the caspian sea.

Caspian seals are known for their prominent spots, which are usually lighter on the females. Adults are approximately 1.5 meters in length and weigh around 86 kilograms. Displaying sexual dimorphism, the males of this species are generally larger and bulkier. Their heads are small relative to the rest of the body. The dental formula for these pinnipeds is I 3/2, R 1/1, PC 6/5.

Caspian seals are shallow divers, with diving depths typically reaching 50 meters and lasting about a minute, although deeper and longer depths have been recorded. They are gregarious, spending most of their time in large colonies.

After an 11 month gestation period, the single pups are born in January and February. Similar to other ringed seals, these pups are born with white pelage and weigh about 5 kilograms. Their white coat is molted at around three weeks to a month. Sexual maturity is reached at 5 years for females, and about 6 or 7 years for males.

Caspian seals diets varies seasonally, and includes a wide variety of fishes and crustaceans such as shad (Alosa spp), cyprinids, gobies, and crustaceans. The seals may enter river estuaries to eat carp, roach and pike-perch.

Sea eagles are known to hunt these seals, which results in a high number of fatalities for the juveniles. They are also hunted by humans for subsistence and commercial reasons. Due to the increasing industrial development in the surrounding region, pollutants and pesticides have entered the Caspian and caused significant habitat problems, weakened immune systems and contributed to disease outbreaks.

In a three week period in February 1978, wolves were responsible for the wanton killing of numerous seals near Astrakhan. Between 17-40% of the seals in the area were estimated to have been killed, but not eaten.
Since the late 1990s, there have been several cases of many Caspian seals dying due to canine distemper virus.

A century ago there were an estimated 1.5 million seals; by the 1980s, there were about 400,000.

SIZE: Average adult 5 ft (1.5 m), 150 lbs. At birth 3 ft (1 m), 25 lbs.

BODY: Medium size seal with long neck, large dark eyes. Fur has distinctive color pattern.

COLOR: All >1 yr old have light bands on dark background encircling the neck, each front flipper, and torso. Background darker on males than females. Pups born with lanugo (soft wooly hair), molt after 4 weeks to first-year coat of blue-gray back with light sides.

BEHAVIOR: Not wary when hauled out on ice. Run across ice (using alternating front legs, swinging hindquarters) rather than using caterpillar movement like most seals. Seldom seen in water. Surface with very little of head showing.

HABITAT: Ice-associated, rarely haul out on land. Southern edge of sea ice winter and spring. Probably pelagic summer and fall.

FOOD HABITS: Eat a variety of pelagic fish and invertebrates: shrimp, crabs, squid, cod, sculpin, pollock, capelin, eelpouts.

LIFE HISTORY: Sexually mature at 3-5 yrs. Breed in May. Single pup per yr born early April on open ice floes after 11-mo gestation. Lactation is 3-4 wks. Molt annually before ice recedes (March-July). May live 30 yrs.

STATUS AND HUMAN INTERACTIONS: Status unknown. Heavy commercial harvest in 1960s by Russian sealers has been reduced to about 4000 per yr. Alaska Native subsistence harvest of <200 per yr for meat, fur, oil. Vulnerable to reduction in sea ice.

What do they eat? Dining with a harp seal? Then you'll enjoy arctic cod, capelin, decapods, amphipods, crustaceans, and pelagic fish. Santa Claus and harp seals live in the north. That is, if you believe in harp seals! There are three different populations of harp seal. One is found in the White Sea and has an estimated population of 800,000. The second population Jan Mayen, is thought to have about 300,000 animals. The largest group is found in the North Atlantic. This population is estimated to have 2.3 million harp seals. Harp seals may search for their food in waters as deep as 250 meters (That's 820 feet). They have to watch out for predators like walruses and polar bears. A harp seal may live up to 35 years (remember that's a; maximum, not an average) if it avoids predators.

A Mother Harp Seal Sniffs Her Pup for Instant Recognition Framed Art Print

Skerry, Brian J.

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SIZE: Average adult 5 ft (1.5 m), 210 lbs. At birth 3 ft (1 m), 26 lbs.

BODY: Medium-size seal with narrow, dog-like snout.

COLOR: Dark irregular spots scattered on silver sides and darker back. Pups born with lanugo (soft wooly hair), molt to adult coat in 3-4 weeks.

BEHAVIOR: Haul out on ice floes late fall to early summer and on land during warmer mos. Often form triads of female, male, and pup during pupping and breeding season. Gregarious at other times. Known to dive to bottom in waters >800 ft (245 m) deep.

HABITAT: Continental shelf to coastal. Seasonally associated with ice front. Avoid heavy ice but use floes at ice front fall to summer. In summer, found near shore, on land, and up rivers as well as far offshore.

FOOD HABITS: Opportunistic. Eat small schooling fish, shrimp, octopus.

LIFE HISTORY: Sexually mature at 3-5 yrs. Breed April-May. Single pup per yr born on ice in April after 11-mo gestation. Females use shelter of ice hummocks rather than digging lair. Pups wean after 3-4 wks. Annual molt May-June. May live 35 yrs.

STATUS AND HUMAN INTERACTIONS: Status unknown. Limited commercial harvest by Russia. Subsistence use by Alaska and Siberian Natives is approx 5-6000 per yr. Potential for bycatch (in trawls and nets) and competition with commercial fisheries (shrimp, pollock, herring).

Stay on the upper part of the beach or bluffs and away from the water's edge. Remain quiet and calm during the observation.

Wear drab, muted colors.

Never throw objects at the animal or in the water.

If you encounter a seal on the beach stay at least 100 yards away from the animal. It may well be healthy and just resting. Seals can deliver a nasty bite and may carry diseases transmittable to humans and dogs.

If seals are spotted from a boat, maintain a distance of about 200 yards in order to avoid disrupting the animals' behavior.