| Otariids Temporal range: Late Oligocene – Recent |
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| California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Caniformia |
| Superfamily: | Pinnipedia |
| Family: | Otariidae |
Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear-flaps, long fore-flippers, the ability to walk on all fours, and short thick hair. Together with the fur seals, they comprise the family Otariidae, or eared seals. There are six extant and one extinct species (the Japanese sea lion) in five genera. Their range extends from the subarctic to tropical waters of the global ocean in both the northern and southern hemispheres with the notable exception of the northern Atlantic Ocean.[1]
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[edit] Taxonomy
Together with the fur seals, they constitute 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 the dense underfur characteristic of the latter. Recent genetic evidence, however, strongly suggests that Callorhinus, the genus of the Northern fur seal is more closely related to some sea lion species than to the other fur seal genus Arctocephalus.[2] Therefore the fur seal/sealion subfamily distinction has been eliminated from many taxonomies. Nonetheless, all fur seals have certain features in common: the fur, generally smaller sizes, farther and longer foraging trips, smaller and more abundant prey items and greater sexual dimorphism. And all sea lions have certain features in common, in particular their coarse, short fur, greater bulk and larger prey than fur seals. For these reasons, the distinction remains useful.
[edit] Taxonomy
- SUBORDER PINNIPEDIA
- Family Otariidae
- Subfamily Arctocephalinae
- Genus Arctocephalus (southern fur seal; 8 species)
- Genus Callorhinus (northern fur seal; 1 species)
- Subfamily Otariinae
- 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)
- Galapagos sea lion, Z. wollebaeki
- Genus Eumetopias
- Subfamily Arctocephalinae
- Family Phocidae: true seals
- Family Odobenidae: Walrus
[edit] Images
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| A gathering of more than 40 sea lions off the coast of California. | A military sea lion on board a US navy ship. | A sea lion at the Memphis Zoo. |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "ANIMAL BYTES - Sea Lions & Fur Seals". http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/Animal-Bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/mammalia/pinnipedia/sea-lions-&-fur-seals.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
- ^ Wynen, L.P. et al. (2001). "Phylogenetic relationships within the eared seals (Otariidae: Carnivora): implications for the historical biogeography of the family". Mol. Phylog. Evol. 21: 270–284. doi:10.1006/mpev.2001.1012. PMID 11697921.