Difference between revisions 275976543 and 276116409 on enwiki

{{common name for|Otariid|eared seals, including the [[fur seal]]s}} ''For other uses of the term "sea lion", see [[Sea lion (disambiguation)]].''
{{Taxobox
| name = Sea lion
| image = Sealion052006.JPG
| image_caption = A sea lion in [[Monterey, California]]
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Mammal|Mammalia]]
| ordo = [[Carnivora]]
| subordo = [[Pinniped]]ia
| familia = [[Otariidae]]
| familia_authority = in part
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = 
''[[Eumetopias]]''<br>
''[[Zalophus]]''<br>
''[[Otaria]]''<br>
''[[Neophoca]]''<br>
''[[Phocarctos]]''
}}

'''Sea lions''' are any of seven [[species]] in six [[genera]] of modern [[pinniped]]s including one extinct (the [[Japanese sea lion]]).  Sea lions are characterized by the presence of external ear [[pinna (anatomy)|pinnae]] or flaps, long front [[flipper (anatomy)|flippers]], and the ability to walk on four flippers on land. Their range extends from the [[subarctic]] to [[tropical]] waters of the [[Ocean|global ocean]] in both the [[northern hemisphere|northern]] and [[southern hemisphere]]s with the notable exception of the [[Atlantic Ocean]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/Animal-Bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/mammalia/pinnipedia/sea-lions-&-fur-seals.htm |title=ANIMAL BYTES - Sea Lions & Fur Seals |accessdate=2007-07-21}}</ref>

==Taxonomy== 
[[Image:Alaska 2007 056.jpg|thumb|left|Sea lions [[hauling-out|haul out]] on a rock off the coast of [[Raspberry Island (Alaska)]].]]
Together with the [[fur seal]]s, they comprise the [[Otariidae]] family, collectively known as eared seals.  Until recently, sea lions were grouped under a single subfamily called ''Otariinae'' to distinguish them from the fur seals ''Arcocephalinae'', based on the most prominent common feature between all species, namely the lack of dense underfur characteristic of the latter.  Recent genetic evidence, however, strongly suggests that the ''Callorhinus'', the genus of the [[Northern fur seal]]  is more closely related to some sea lion species than to the fur seal genus ''Arctocephalus''.<ref> Wynen, L.P. et al. (2001) [http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/mpev.2001.1012 Phylogenetic relationships within the eared seals (Otariidae: Carnivora): implications for the historical biogeography of the family.] ''Mol. Phylog. Evol.'' 21, 270–284 </ref>  Therefore the fur seal/sealion subfamily distinction has been largely eliminated.  Nonetheless, all sea lions have certain features in common, in particular the coarse, short fur, greater bulk and larger prey than fur seals.

== Interactions with humans ==
Some species of sea lions are readily trainable and are often a popular attraction at zoos and aquariums.  The archetypal circus seal performing behaviors such as throwing and catching balls on its nose and clapping is almost always a sea lion.

The government of Japan has set a quota of 116 kills per year in Hokkaido,{{Fact|date=June 2007}} as sea lions are seen as a threat to commercial [[fisheries]]. International environmentalists{{which}} and local fishery advocates{{who}} continue to debate the issue. 

Sea lions have been trained by the [[U.S. Navy]]'s [[U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program|Marine Mammal Program]], based in [[San Diego]], to detain [[scuba diver]]s.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070213/ap_on_re_us/dolphin_defenders
|url=http://www.nbc11.com/news/11827003/detail.html?rss=bay&psp=news
|title=Navy may deploy anti-terrorism dolphins
|first=Thomas
|last=Watkins
|publisher=Associated Press
|date=2007-02-12
|accessdate=2007-02-12}}</ref>

Sea lion attacks on humans are rare. In a highly unusual attack in 2007 in [[Western Australia]] a sea lion leapt from the water and seriously mauled a 13-year old girl surfing behind a speedboat. The sea lion appeared to be preparing for a second attack when the girl was rescued. An Australian marine biologist opined the sea lion may have viewed the girl "like a rag doll toy" to be played with.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6556895.stm BBC News: Sea lion attacks Australian girl]</ref><ref>[http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21560487-2,00.html news.com.au: Monster sea lion likely to be 'playing' with teen]</ref><ref>[http://www.news.com.au/sundaymail/story/0,23739,21557673-953,00.html Sea lion mauls girl]</ref> In [[San Francisco]] where an increasingly large population of [[California sea lion]]s crowds docks along San Francisco Bay, there have been incidents in recent years of swimmers being bitten on the leg by large aggressive males, possibly as a territorial act[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/16/MNGMFMDVGC1.DTL&hw=sea+lion&sn=011&sc=518][http://cbs5.com/pets/sea.lion.bite.2.859412.html].

The [[Moche]] people of ancient [[Peru]] worshipped the sea and its animals. They often depicted sea lions in their art.<ref>Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. ''The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the [[Larco_Museum|Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera]].'' New York: [[Thames and Hudson]], 1997.</ref>

==Species==
* '''''SUBORDER [[Pinnipedia|PINNIPEDIA]]'''''
* '''Family Otariidae'''
** ''Genus [[Arctocephalus]]'' (southern fur seal species) 
** ''Genus [[Callorhinus]]'' (northern fur seal)
** ''Genus Eumetopias''
*** [[Steller Sea Lion]], ''E. jubatus''
** ''Genus Neophoca''
*** [[Australian Sea Lion]], ''N. cinerea''
** ''Genus Otaria''
*** [[South American Sea Lion]], ''O. flavescens''
** ''Genus Phocarctos''
*** [[New Zealand Sea Lion]] or Hooker's Sea Lion, ''P. hookeri''
** ''Genus Zalophus''
*** [[California Sea Lion]], ''Z. californianus''
*** [[Japanese Sea Lion]], ''Z. japonicus'' - [[extinct]] (1950s)and they like to eat lots of meat
*** [[Galapagos Sea Lion]], ''Z. wollebaeki''
* Family [[Phocidae]]: true seals
* Family [[Odobenidae]]: Walrus

==Hybrid==
A probable hybrid sea lion from a cross between the California sea lion (''Zalophus californianus'') and the South American sea lion (''Otaria byronia'') was reported in the a 2002 issue of the Journal of Mammology, according to the [[French National  Center for  Scientific Research]]. [http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=13521515]

==Images==
{| class="wikitable" border="1" width="750px"
|-
| [[Image:Zalophus californianus at Moss Landing 3.jpg|250px]]
| [[Image:Cal Sea Lions on Pier 39.JPG|250px]]
| [[Image:GiGi sea lion 1984.jpg|250px]]
|-
| Sea lions at [[Moss Landing, California]].
| Hundreds of [[California Sea Lion]]s sunbathing on [[Pier 39]] in [[San Francisco]] in the United States.
| GiGi, a sea lion trained by the U.S. Navy for underwater recovery, nuzzles merchant mariner Capt. Arne Willehag of the USNS Sioux during a 1983 training session.
|}
==See also==
*[[Otariids]] 
*[[Pinniped]]
*[[Marine mammal]]

==References==<!-- ZOOLOGICAL SCIENCE 24: 81–85 (2007) -->
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* [http://www.visitingnewzealand.com/sealions-on-the-otago-peninsula-dunedin/ Video of Sea Lions on the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, New Zealand]


{{Carnivora|C1.}}

[[Category:Fur seals and sea lions| Sea lion]]
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