There are five living genera of sea lion and they can be found in the coastal waters in all of the world’s oceans at subarctic to tropical latitudes. Sea lion pups are at risk as pregnant mothers pass the toxin onto their developing fetuses and through nursing after giving birth. Other types of food sources for Sea Lions include crabs and clams. Prey species are identified by hard parts, such as … MPI and DOC are also working on an New Zealand sea lion Threat Management Plan which will provide recommendations for addressing key threats. Most sea lions are not picky eaters. These haul-out spots may be small, rocky islands or remote shorelines. What do Sea Lions Eat? To protect Steller sea lions from potential competition for prey, NOAA Fisheries has closed areas around Steller sea lion rookeries and important haulouts to commercial fishing for prey species. Sea lions can consume prey whole while underwater. They will feed on a wide variety of seafood, including squid, clams, salmon, anchovy, dogfish, herring, lamprey, and whiting. Sea lions are carnivorous and are voracious predators. At depth, the pressure from water increases. Sea Shepherd The sea lion is a large marine mammal of the clad Pinnipedia, or pinnipeds, characterized by their external ears and their ability to walk on all fours using their long front flippers, an ability absent in seals. Currently, three species are listed as endangered while the rest are not currently threatened. The Portal of Life on Earth, Biodiversity, Animal Facts, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. decline of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias prey of high-energy content. When the stock biomass of a Steller sea lion prey species i… Sea Lion. They are capable of diving to great depths of up to 900 ft (272 m) thanks to special adaptations and the ability to remain underwater for minutes at a time. They include Killer Whales, Sharks, and humans. Oily forage fish pack a nutritional punch; white-fleshed Pacific rockfish do not. The main source of food for Sea Lions is fish and a very large amount of it! Lions eat – a lot! New Zealand sea lions eat a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate prey. What they will have access to depends on where they live. In fact, several Steller sea lions that were marked in southeastern Alaska have been observed at Dry Bay (Rehberg et al. They aren’t really playing with it though. As long as there is a sufficient amount of food to be found, Sea Lions will generally hunt close to the shore. Biologydictionary.net, October 02, 2020. https://biologydictionary.net/sea-lion/. They do have to return to the surface often for air though. They are excellent divers thanks to the great design of their bodies. The gestation period is normally about 9 months, at which point one pup is born to each female although twins do rarely occur. PITCHER: PREY OF THE STELLERSEA LION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Prey items were found in 153 of 250 sea lion stomachs examined. Steller sea lions usually congregate on isolated islands because they are the ideal terrestrial habitat. There are several types of fish that they will eat including herring, mackerel, pompano, salmon, and capelin. All sea lions inhabit coastal waters, generally remaining close to known ‘haul-out spots’, locations where they will exit the water and rest on the rocky shores. However, they will move as they need to in order to find enough food to survive on. There are several types of fish that they will eat including herring, mackerel, pompano, salmon, and capelin. Some think they may be curious about the rocks and often swallow them on land. California sea lions have also been known to cooperate with other species while feeding, including dolphins and seabirds. The results of domoic acid toxicity are very detrimental to the infected animals. We documented temporal and spatial patterns in the diets, abundance, distribution, and During this time, infighting between males will increase significantly, with vicious fights and aggressive displays occurring in defense of their territories. Biologydictionary.net Editors. That’s particularly true of females, who often have a pup to consider. Photo: Gentry & Johnson 1981. With various species among five genera, sea lions can be found in most of the world’s oceans in all subarctic to tropical waters in both hemispheres. Sea Lions are carnivorous which means that they love to consume meat. Instead they are turning it into the right position for easier digestion. Sea Lions have three main predators to be careful of. While humans must return from depth slowly to allow the gases to escape their system at a reasonable rate, sea lions have specially adapted lungs that allow them to prevent the exchange of gases in their system while they are underwater. They will often feed in groups and effectively gorge themselves before hauling out of the water onto a rocky shoreline to digest and rest. Fishes made up 95.7%, cephalopods 4.2%, decapod crustaceans <0.1%, shelledgastropods <0.1%, andmammals <0.1% of the volume of stomach contents (Table 3). They feed on more than 50 species of fishes and cephalopods, feeding primarily on squids, octopuses, hake, northern anchovy, opaleye, and herring. Steller sea lions, and the higher prey availability at rookery sites provides some advantage. We often hear about seals being attacked by sharks and killer whales, so it’s easy to forget that sea lions are actually powerful hunters in their own right. Without their usual prey, hungry sea lions turned to rockfish, “which is like junk food for sea lions,” Acevedo-Whitehouse says. Tuna are large and powerful predators themselves, yet the sea lions seem to have found a safe way to hunt them using their numbers and intelligence to their advantage. Sea-lions may need as much arrow squid as the trawlers are taking, in which case indirect fishing competition is of significant concern, although another recent study suggests that these squid form only a minor part of sea-lion diet. Sea lions do not migrate, but do move their “central-place haulout,” the center of their foraging activity, to track seasonal concentrations of their many types of prey. Sea lions are often seen lounging on man-made structures such as navigation aids and docks. Until 2008, their primary prey was white sturgeon, consuming 1,800 of them in the tailrace below the dam within view of observers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Sea lions are impacted by domoic acid when they consume contaminated prey sources. For example, the Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaek) has been demonstrated to engage in interesting herding behavior while hunting. Females are generally smaller, normally weighing 100-200 lb (45-90 kg). Steller sea lions move to take advantage of high-energy seasonally available prey resources such as salmon and small schooling fish. Most are unique to their habitat and the prey available in it. In many species, females will mate again within weeks of giving birth while continuing to care for her new pup, beginning the annual cycle anew. The sea lion sets his sights on one unlucky bird. Pups in particular are prone to predation and orcas have been known to identify sea lion breeding grounds, often engaging in fascinating hunting activities to catch one. The largest species is the Steller’s sea lion, which can weigh up to 2 200 lb (1 000 kg) and grow to a length of 10 ft (3.0 m). The sea lion population has rebounded after a major die-off during the recent drought. Normally southern sea lions prefer prey like fish, and squid…similar to the gentoos…but in these waters, the hunter becomes the hunted. As a group, the sea lions will herd tuna into shallow lagoons where they will be much easier to hunt. Then they simply will swallow chunks of it until it is all gone. Both a lion and a lioness can eat up to 15% of their own body weight in just one meal – that’s how much they eat. Following copulation, females will often delay fertilization for up to three months, sometime mating with other males later in the breeding season instead. They use them to break of large portions of prey that is too large for them to swallow. Fact 26: Sea Lions will stalk their prey and ambush schools of fish with jaws agape, spearing their prey with impressively sharp teeth. 1 of 6 Sea lions at Pier 39 enjoys a rest on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018 in San Francisco , Calif. They can spend many hours a day looking for food though. Should their various food sources become almost non existent, some of the species of seals will start to consume the young pups that are in the area. Under existing management, California sea lions are captured at Bonneville Dam by state and federal employees and euthanized off-site. Sea lions are known to eat up to 8% of their body weight at a time. Steller sea lions share Kodiak waters and prey resources with a variety of apex predators, including marine fish, birds, and mammals, whose numbers increased during the Steller sea lion’s decline. Currently, sea lions are using the floating bases more often and we expect less sea lion … The larger a Sea Lion is the more food it is going to consume on a daily basis. Over 1.2 million metabarcodes identified six classes from three phyla, together representing over 80 taxa. Fishes included 14 species representing 11 families. They are related to walruses and seals, but lack the long tusks of walruses and retain the ability to ‘walk’, unlike seals. Like all otariids, Steller sea lions are amphibious and spend some time in water and some on land. However, many features are common to most species. Sea lions are capable of diving to deep depths in search of food. South America also hosts the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens), which lives primarily along the Chilean coast, while New Zealand and Australia each have distinct species of sea lions along their shores. For a 180 lb human, this is the equivalent of eating 14.4 lb (6.5 kg) of food in a single meal. They also enjoy consuming squid that is often found in the water. What a Sea Lion will consume often depends on the time of year and how plentiful the food sources happen to be. In New Zealand, for example, whales risk beaching themselves while rushing up on the shore in chase of young sea lions swimming and playing in the surf zone. In that area, sea lions exclusively prey on salmon and steelhead, mostly at dams where the fish are easy to catch as they migrate upstream. Large sharks such as the great white shark will also hunt sea lions, pups in particular. Biologydictionary.net Editors. There is one aspect that researchers are very puzzled by. and they have a very diverse diet, especially in the wild. National Geographic Wild Ocean Killers clip showing how Antarctic Sea lions prey on penguins Steller sea lions tend to live in the coastal waters of the subarctic because of the cooler temperate climate of the area. Many marine animals have special adaptations that allow them to inhabit these environments. Adult males generally try to establish a territory in the spring. This remains a mystery though for them to continue looking into. El Niño, a cyclical warming of the Pacific Ocean, has also proved devastating for sea lions, as it greatly diminishes their food supplies and increases diseases. What they will have access to depends on where they live. The Galapagos subspecies must also worry about stray dog packs. Depending on the species and the region, they will eat a variety of items including large fish species such as salmon and tuna. (2020, October 02). Together with fur seals, they form the family known as Otariidae or eared seals, in reference to their characteristic external ear flaps. This presents a risk due to the potential buildup of nitrogen gas in the tissues of animals, a phenomenon well-known to SCUBA divers. There have also been accounts of steller sea lions catching sharks and consuming the pups of northern fur seals. This is because they will flip it around and around before they let it slide down. Like many other marine mammals, Steller sea lions have high energetic demands in the spring. Of course humans pose the biggest threat to them both in the water and on land than these other types of predators. This is a natural instinct that researchers believe is in place to help reduce the population when there isn’t enough food for all of them to live on. They have large front flippers and a tail fin that allows them to swim proficiently. Sea lions can eat prey larger than their head, such as the large Pacific octopus, all at once. Typically, Stellar sea lions spend their time in the water feeding but haul-out onto land to reproduce, raise their pups, molt, and rest. However, as global climate change causes drastic changes in marine habitats around the world, certain populations are indeed under pressure. Sea lions can eat prey larger than their head, such as the large Pacific octopus, all at once. California sea lions are predators that obtain all their food from the sea. Reproductive behaviors vary somewhat between species of sea lions. Sea lions are generalist predators, as opposed to specialists that focus on certain prey. The main source of food for Sea Lions is fish and a very large amount of it! Adult male sea lions prey on Antarctic, subantarctic and New Zealand fur seal pups and ju… They will also use their back teeth to break the shells on clams so that they can consume what is inside. They are able to survive well in the water because they aren’t really picky about what they consume as long as it is plentiful and it contains meat. While we don’t know too much about the interactions with Sea Lions and Killer Whales or Sharks, we definitely know plenty about their interactions with humans. Sea lions require a complex diet, and each animal receives different vitamins and supplements based on their age, needs, and medical history. Females dive up to 129 m for about 3.9 minutes with some dive depths over 600 m for as long as 14.5 minutes. Sea Lions are carnivorous which means that they love to consume meat. Sea Lion Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan The animals are also provided with varied enrichment, including toys, unflavored gelatin, water h… However, some of the most fascinating aspects of these charismatic species are better observed in the wild. They have been recorded diving to depths of approximately 600 feet. The lion, as a carnivore, is an animal that will only eat the meat and flesh of other animals, which is called the “prey”. However, this also requires their muscles to be fully loaded with oxygen prior to diving, as the air in their lungs is entirely expelled before diving, another necessity for this unique adaptation to remain effective. Sea lions are known to have many adaptive behaviors and interesting hunting and feeding strategies. There are various species of sea lion belonging to five extant genera. They also eat squid, various crustaceans and mollusks, small shark species, and octopus. Perhaps fitting with their common name as the lions of the sea, sea lions are voracious predators and have seemingly insatiable appetites. It seems the sea lion indeed has been aptly named. jubatus) in Alaska (Alverson, 1992), The overall goal of our study was to which have declined by over 70% in the estimate the amount of prey required last 20–25 years (Loughlin et al., 1992; by Steller sea lions … Many times it appears that a Sea Lion is playing with its food before it consumes it. In addition to conserving prey for Steller sea lions, the area closures reduce the potential for the fisheries to disrupt the sea lions’ normal behavior near their terrestrial habitat. Frequently eaten species include opalfish, Munida, hoki, oblique-banded rattail, salps, octopus, squid, and crustaceans. Steller sea lions from haulouts and rookeries throughout southeast Alaska make seasonal migrations to the Alsek River during spring to take advantage of this high energy, densely aggregated prey resource. Migration. When in the water, sea lions are adept swimmers, playing and hunting with speed and grace. There have also been accounts of steller sea lions catching sharks and consuming the pups of northern fur seals. In revision). If the fishermen are using advanced devices to get the fish then the Sea Lions have no choice but to turn to these other types of food sources in order to survive. 1) Identify prey species being consumed by sea lions in order to determine which are most important to the sea lion population. Smaller sea lions vigorously shook the carcass at the surface using the same sideways snapping motion used to eviscerate the pup at capture.” Photo of a Steller Sea Lion and its prey: a northern fur seal pup. It seems the sea lion indeed has been aptly named. They have found a variety of stones in the stomachs of dead sea lions in the wild. Sea lions reach sexual maturity at about 5-7 years of age and can live for up to 30 years. Yet they are able to do this very rapidly and then dive again over and over. They are also able to walk while on land, although they are not nearly as graceful out of the water as they are in the water. They want fish and squid to go down head first so they will turn it until it is able to do so. Despite being larger than many species and a fierce predator itself, sea lions have other more formidable predatory species to worry about as well. At sea New Zealand sea lion are active divers that forage on both benthic (deep sea layer) and pelagic (upper sea layer) prey. Since they do consume large amounts of fish, it can pose a threat to commercial fishermen. California sea lions and Steller sea lions are common along the west coast of North America, while the Galapagos sea lion is native to the coastal areas of northern South America near Ecuador. Sea lions are large and streamlined with a smooth appearance and short, thick hair. “Sea Lion.” Biology Dictionary. As generalists, individuals develop foraging preferences and styles that suit the prey, region and opportunities at hand. They also forage through reefs using their long, stiff whiskers, to draw out assorted invertebrates, crabs, and their favourite food, squid. Great white sharks and killer whales are natural predators of sea lions. When they move into water that is further from the shore though they increase the chance of becoming a meal for Killer Sharks and Whales though. A group of whale watchers at Newport Beach in California were treated to a shocking sight: sea lions battling with sharks, and this time the sharks have become the prey. Retrieved from https://biologydictionary.net/sea-lion/. Larger sea lions broke apart their prey under water, surfacing only to swallow large bits of tissue. Where they both occur, sea lions will also feed on penguins. They are opportunistic predators of … Feed in groups and effectively gorge themselves before hauling out of the sea finds. 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