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California Sea Lions
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California Sea Lions


Appearance


California Sea Lions have large front flippers and small hind flippers that bend forward, enabling them to "walk" on land on all fours. They have a dog-like head and small external ears.

They are brownish in colour. The average male grows to 2.5 m (7 feet) in length and weighs about 300 kg (700 lbs). The females grow to be 1.8 m (6 feet) in length and weigh about 130 kg (300 lbs). Their average life expectancy is 12 to 14 years, however, some have lived up to 30 years.

Sea lions have senses that operate effectively both under water and in the air. Their large brown eyes have thick curved lenses allowing them to see very well under water. They have a set of eyelids to protect their eyes when on land and a third membrane eyelid to further moisten and protect their eyes.

Habitat


The California Sea Lion is by far the most common species of sea lion in captivity. They are found along the west coast of North America, from British Columbia to northern Mexico and on small islands off these coasts. A smaller population has also been found on the Galapagos Islands. In winter, many bulls move North and have been seen as far as Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Diet


In the ocean, California Sea Lions feed mainly on fish, squid and octopus. In captivity, they are fed various types of fish such as herring and capelin. On the average, sea lions consume 4.5 kg - 6.8 kg (10 to 15 lbs) of fish a day. The whiskers of the sea lion are extremely important for locating food under water. Acting as antennae, the whiskers record movement in the water and can be used to touch objects in order to identify their texture.

Reproduction and Offspring


During the months of May and June, sea lions gather on the beaches for their mating and birthing season. The bulls patrol territories that contain harems of about 15 females. The pregnant females give birth to pups bred the previous mating season. The gestation period is 12 months. The newborn pups are about .6 m (2 feet) in length and weigh 7.3 kg (16 pounds). They nurse for five to six months. A few weeks after giving birth, the females come into heat and the mating process begins again.

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