Do you know the difference between seals and sea lions? Sea Lions are pinnipeds that have external ear flaps and long fore flippers. Sea Lion Information. They can swim around at up to 56 km/h. New Zealand fur seals normally dive for prey for up to one or two minutes, though some individuals have been known to dive to almost 400 meters, and to stay underwater for more than 14 minutes in one go. The future is unsure for many species of Sea Lions. Governments, scientists and conservationists recognise that NZ sea lions are under severe threat from disease, accidental death as a result of fisheries by-catch, and habitat change caused by fishing. New Zealand sea lions feed on a wide range of prey species including fish, cephalopods (squid and yellow octopus), crustaceans, seabirds and other marine mammals. Females are a tad tinier, with 180 to 200 centimeters (5.9 to 6.6 feet) of length. Man has proven to be the biggest threat to the Sea Lion survival though for a very long time. A study of adult New Zealand sea lions at Sandy Bay, Enderby Island discovered there is about 27% showing evidence of scarring from near-miss shark attacks. We really only know the basics about Sea Lions including their anatomy and their mating habits. They learn to swim on their own when they are a couple of weeks old. Galapagos Sea Lion: Lives in the Galapagos Island and Isla De La Plata. Yet they can’t pinpoint reasons why this is the case. Facts about Sea Lions, California Sea Lion, Steller The New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) is also known as Hooker’s sea lion, and to Māori as whakahao. A female sea lion can weigh up to 400 pounds and be 6 feet long. Sea lions are true carnivores and individuals may eat as much as 50 pounds of fish and squid in a day. The big colonies though also have many sub groups found within them. They have long torpedo shaped bodies that are well designed for movements both in the water and on land. However, some of the most fascinating aspects of these charismatic species are better observed in the wild. Sea Lion Information, Anatomy, Feeding, Reproduction, EvolutionSocial Structure and Sea Lion Conservation. Highlights. Seals just have a tiny opening for their ears. All species of Sea Lions are considered to be mammals. Part of this is likely to fall to the fact that they are very fast swimmers – they need the extra energy! The islands are separated by the waters of the Cook Strait. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Sea Lions can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes. They are solitary hunters and rarely if ever take large game such as penguins or seals, … Fun Facts for Kids. Lives in South Island and Auckland in New Zealand. They all belong to a group of animals known as pinnipeds. Sea Lion Conservation. New Zealand sea lion remains have been collected and studied from Fiordland to East Otago, Cook Strait, South Taranaki, and on the east coast of the North Island from the Coromandel Peninsula to Northland. New Zealand Facts | Geography. Adult males are heavily built, especially in the forequarters, measure between 2.0-3.25m in length and weigh 318-410 kg, while adult … 5 x Fun Facts about New Zealand. Cleaning up the environment is a huge part of the conservation efforts for Sea Lions. Lions are some of the heaviest animals on the planet. Welcome to KidsPlayAndCreate.com, a website that’s dedicated to helping kids live their best lives ever through fun games, crafts, facts, cooking activities, self esteem advice and more! Galapagos Sea Lion – very large, with the males being about 1,000 pounds when they are full grown. The New Zealand, or Hooker’s, sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) inhabits only New Zealand. Creature Profile. Baby sea lions (pups) do not know how to swim when they are born. Other Name(s): Hair seal, white-necked hair seal, white-capped hair seal, counselor seal Scientific name: Neophoca cinerea Type of Animal: Mammal Animal Family: Otariidae (the eared seal family) Where Found: Australia (Western Australia and South Australia) Length: male 185 to 225 cm (73 to 89 in); female 130 to 185 cm (51 to 73 in) Sea Lions can swim up to 22 miles per hour. South American Sea Lion: Lives mostly near Peru and some live along the South American Coast. They swallow small prey and tear larger prey into sizable chunks. Sea Lions have external ear flaps, long fore-flippers, and short thick hair. New Zealand is after all the very first country to greet each new day! Next up for the types of sea lion we have New Zealand sea lion. New Zealand consists of two main islands: North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu). True seals and walruses belong to another group. Babies are born with brown fur. Facts about the New Zealand sea lion World Range & HabitatThe Hooker's sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri, is one of the rarest and most endangered sea lions. Environmental concerns continue to cause problems for them in their natural habitats as well. For the most part they are considered to be very timid but there have been some reports of aggressive attacks on humans. If you see a small earflap on each side of its head, you are looking at a sea lion. They have been used to teach tricks to for entertainment. Know these amazing 100 facts about New Zealand, facts and information, what is NZ famous for, fun facts 2019-2020, all about New Zealand! Australian Sea Lion Facts At A Glance. For their protection they will stay very close together both on land and in the water. This is the sea lion you see that does tricks at theme parks, aquariums, and zoos. Dark brown, with a mane of thick hair about the neck and shoulders, they can tip the scales at over 400 kilograms. New Zealand Sea Lion: Also known as the Hooker’s Sea Lion. Sea Lions are considered to be highly intelligent animals. The threat that they pose depend on the areas where the Sea Lions live. Australian Sea Lion – Males are dark brown with a light yellow mane around their heads. Males are 2.0–2.5 metres in length, females 1.5–2.0 metres. Australian Sean Lion: Lives in the South and West parts of Australia. Their weight is … The males are extremely aggressive when it comes to earning the right to mate with females. For example, endemic Hector's dolphins (found nowhere else), rare beaked whales, New Zealand sea lions (found only in our southern waters), and the widely distributed New Zealand fur seals/kekeno. Once the pups are about a year old they tend to form small sub groups as well. A male sea lion can weigh up to 800 pounds and be 9 feet long. KidsPlayAndCreate.com is an Amazon Affiliate and may earn a small commission for products that are purchased through Amazon via our affiliate links. Years of them being destroyed by humans has really taken a toll on them. They also have the ability … A mother sea lion is pregnant for 12 months. So what do you look at to tell whos who? The males are much larger than fur seals and have a distinctive blunt nose. Creative Arts and Crafts Projects and Ideas for kids, The Best Black History Month Movies to Watch with Kids, Black History Month Writing Prompts for Students, I Love Being Your Teacher Because… Valentine’s Day Self Esteem Activity, What is an Adverb? New Zealand sea lions (also known as whakahao/rāpoka or Hooker’s sea lion) are the rarest species of sea lion in the world and the most threatened because of their declining numbers. New Zealand Sea Lions – New Zealand sea lions are on the larger side of the species. Read More. Even with conservation efforts in place there is still a great deal of work to be done if these animals are going to survive. The … Amazing photo gallery about Sea Lions. This website is a resource for those who want to have fun, build self esteem and teach their kids how to lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. Although closely related, these animals are quite different from one another. Did you know that South American sea lions and other pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are descendent from a land-based carnivore that lived 27-25 million years ago? Male sea lions can eat 30-45 pounds of food every day. Sea lions are ubiquitous throughout the world and commonly observed by humans in bays, harbors, or at the zoo. New Zealand sea lions are the prey for great white sharks. Steller Sea Lion: The largest of the sea lion. The fact that humans are also taking control over the waters where they once lived in peace is a huge concern. Other seals that visit our shores occasionally, such as the southern elephant seal/ihupuku and the leopard seal, are found in larger numbers in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters. The temperatures are compatible with where some Sea Lions live. The presence of sea lions in northern North Island can’t be proved after about 1500, so it is believed they disappeared from that area. A baby sea lion is around 15 pounds when they are born. The Stellar Sea Lion is the largest of the 7 species. The New Zealand Sea Lion is the rarest of the species. Archaeological evidence points to the fact that native sea lions were once found along the entire length of New Zealand’s coast, from the North Island right down to Stewart Island and the sub-antarctic islands, too. Phocarctos hookeri, also known as the New Zealand sea lion, is monotypic and is one of the world's seven extant sea lions. New Zealand sea lions are one of the rarest sea lion species in the world and are only found in New Zealand. The Steller Sea Lion is the largest of them all and lives in the Northern Pacific, especially around Alaska. ), New Zealand. Yet we really don’t know much about what those different types of sounds are used for. New Zealand sea lions, like all otariids (eared seals), have marked sexual dimorphism; adult males are 240–350 cm long and weigh 320–450 kg and adult females are 180–200 cm long and weigh 90–165 kg. Most of New Zealand’s population of 4.5 million is of European descent; The locals are often called “kiwis” The Ninety-Mile Beach is only 50 miles long; No matter where you are in New Zealand, you’ll never be more than 128 km from the seaside 36 Amazing Facts About Lions 1. Its main food is fish and cephalopods such as squid and octopus. Lives in the Northern Pacific mostly around Alaska. This species is also known by the following name(s): Hooker's Sea Lion. The Portal of Life on Earth, Biodiversity, Animal Facts, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. There are actually seven species of Sea Lions in the world, but people tend to lump them all into one category. There are many stories out there about seeing Sea Lions crying. Sea Lions really only have two predators that are other animals – Killer Whales and Sharks. New Zealand sea lion has another name that is known by people as Hooker’s sea lion. The life span for a sea lion is 25-35 years in captivity and 10-15 years in the wild. Definition and List of Adverbs for Kids, What Happens in Spring? They give birth on land. Female sea lions can eat 15-25 pounds of food every day. The males are much bigger than the females which helps them to gain the ability to mate with them because the females will look for the largest males out there to be with. Share . New Zealand Sea Lion – also known as the Hooker’s Sea Lion, the New Zealand Sea Lion is one of the largest animals found in New Zealand. They are highly intelligent and, in captivity, have been trained to perform many entertaining tricks. Spring Facts for Kids, Me Tree Self-Esteem Character Building Arts and Crafts Project for Kids. They often are found in extremely large colonies. Sea Lions are marine mammals classified as pinnipeds which means that they feature winged feet. New Zealand Sea Lion. Also known as the Hooker’s Sea Lion, the New Zealand Sea Lion is Sea Lions may appear lazy but they simply enjoy relaxing and basking in the sun. While Rugby remains the most popular spectator sport in New Zealand, golf is the most popular participation sport, with more golf courses in New Zealand per capita of population, than any other country in the world. New Zealand is a country in the Southern hemisphere and belongs to Oceania. When the larger colonies form again those females with offspring are more likely to stay together. If Galapagos sea lion is the smallest sea lion in size, then New Zealand sea lion is the smallest number in population compare to another species of sea lion. At birth, pups are 70–100 centimetres (2.3–3.3 ft) long and weigh 7–8 kilograms (15–18 lb); the natal pelage is a thick coat of dark brown hair that becomes dark gray with cr… California Sea Lion: Most popular lives mostly in San Francisco California. New Zealand sea lions are one of the largest New Zealand animals. They also have back teeth that can be used to crack shells if needed to get to meat. Some species of Sea Lions live in the sub arctic areas while others live in warmer climates including California. Sea Lions are found in bodies of water all over the world, but not in the Northern Atlantic Ocean. The sea lion has two main predators the Shark and Killer Whale. The Sea Lion is considered to be a pinniped which means that it features a winged foot. New Zealand sea lion. Like all otariids, they have marked sexual dimorphism; adult males are 240–350 centimetres (7.9–11.5 ft) long and weigh 320–450 kilograms (710–990 lb), while adult females are 180–200 centimetres (5.9–6.6 ft) long and weigh 90–165 kilograms (198–364 lb). These seals mostly forage at night, using their whiskers to locate their meals. When they have to go further out into the waters to find food then they are more likely to encounter such predators. We do know that they are very social animals and that they have a variety of methods of communicating. Sea Lions are very interesting animals that can end up being extremely large. This article is only an excerpt. Sea lions are very intelligent. They feed on any fish they can find, squid, and other creatures that are found in the waters that contain meat. Australian Sea Lions consume large amounts of food. They have also been trained to help the United States Navy with their in water needs. Pretty cool right! Many researchers find this to be a very interesting fact. Population: About 12,000 Conservation status: Nationally Vulnerable Threat status: Endemic species, main breeding colony in decline Found in: Most of the population at Auckland and Campbell subantarctic islands. For example the males are more likely to be loners. What is actually taking place is that they have tear ducts to help remove the salt water from their eyes. In the water, sea lions shine with balletic grace, spending the majority of their time hunting in reefs and ocean waters where they can dive as deep as 900 feet and remain submerged for over half an hour. This is because they give live birth to their young and the females also nurse the pups with milk they produce in their bodies. Look at their ears. It’s safe to say you probably shouldn’t get up too close to one – but there’s every reason why you’d want to learn more about them. Appearance. It is common for Sea Lions to move from one sub group to another during various stages of their lives. Sea lions are also New Zealand sea lion are otariids or eared seals, with small ear-flaps visible on the sides of their heads. Adult New Zealand sea lions are markedly dimorphic. Auckland also has the largest number of boats per capita than any other city in the world. In fact, you can expect a sea lion to munch on around 8% of their body weight in food in a single sitting! Lions are Seriously Hefty! ea Lions are in the Otariidae Family meaning eared seals. The New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) is listed as Vulnerable in the 2003 IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List of Globally Threatened Species. A female sea lion can weigh up to 400 pounds and be 6 feet long. About Privacy Policy Resources Copyright © 2021 KidsPlayandCreate. There is also plenty of the food that they consume found there. They are large animals, weighing up to 400 kg for a 3m adult male, and are able to turn their hind flippers forwards and walk, or even gallop, surprisingly fast. Seals belong to the Phocidae group ( earless … Facts Summary: The New Zealand Sea Lion (Phocarctos hookeri) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "mammals" and found in the following area(s): Australia (Macquarie Is. South American Sea Lion Fun Facts. Although the New Zealand sea lion is similar in size and appearance to its geographical neighbour the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea), the two species are not, in fact, closely related genetically (Wynen et al., 2001). Males typically weigh between 320 and 450 kilograms (710 and 990 pounds) and are between 240 and 350 centimeters (7.9 and 11.5 feet) long. Fun Facts about Sea Lion! The sea lions earflaps are turned with the opening downward so water does not enter the ears. Here are 36 interesting facts about lions which are sure to fascinate you! 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