Sea Lion

The sea lion is a large sea mammal that lives along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean and a few other parts of the world. Sea lions belong to a group of animals called pinnipeds, which also includes seals and walruses. There are six kinds of sea lions alive today. The most common one in North America is the California sea lion.

Sea lions are big, strong animals. An adult male can weigh 700 pounds, about the weight of a small motorcycle. Females are much smaller, usually around 240 pounds. Males grow a thick neck and a bony bump on their skull, which makes them look like they have a mane. That is how sea lions got their name.

People sometimes mix up sea lions and seals, but the two are different. Sea lions have small flaps for outer ears. True seals have no ear flaps at all, just tiny holes. Sea lions can also walk on land. They tuck their back flippers under their body and use all four flippers to move. True seals cannot do this. They scoot along on their bellies instead.

In the water, sea lions are fast and graceful. Their front flippers are long and powerful, and they push the animal forward like wings. A California sea lion can swim up to 25 miles per hour in short bursts. Sea lions hunt fish, squid, and octopus. They can dive deep and stay under for a long time. Their nostrils close on their own when they go under, and their heartbeat slows down to save oxygen.

Sea lions are very social. They gather on beaches, docks, and rocky islands in groups that can include hundreds of animals. The barking sound you hear at a harbor is often sea lions calling to each other. Pups are born in early summer and drink their mother's milk for about a year.

Sea lions are also smart. They can be trained to do tricks, follow commands, and even remember signs years later. The U.S. Navy has trained sea lions to find lost equipment on the ocean floor and mark underwater objects for divers. Scientists who study animal minds think sea lions can learn simple patterns in a way similar to how young children do.

Most sea lion populations are doing well today, but some are in trouble. Steller sea lions in parts of Alaska have dropped in number, and scientists are still trying to figure out why. Changes in fish populations, warmer ocean water, and hunting by orcas may all play a part.