The sea lion is dangerous to humans. Why do fur seals rape penguins? Sea lion - description and characteristics
When we think of animals that can take our lives in an instant, most likely in order to then eat us, we usually think of lions, sharks or tigers. However, there are animals in the world that are capable of killing a person, which we would never suspect of this, since they are generally considered harmless. Below is a list of such animals, including the man-eating seal, that pose a natural threat to human life.
10. Man-eating seal
The seal is not the first animal that comes to mind when it comes to man-eating animals. However, Antarctica is home to a terrifying marine mammal known as leopard seal. Body length adult reaches 3.7 meters, and weighs more than 450 kilograms. These snake-like leopard seals prowl the coastal waters of Antarctic ice shelves. Leopard seals are distinguished by their ferocious temper, huge fangs and the ability to chase prey at enormous speeds.
During Ernest Shackleton's historic expedition to Antarctica, one of the crew members was attacked on the shore by a huge leopard seal. The man miraculously escaped death, and only because the leopard seal was shot by his comrades. In 2003, a leopard seal grabbed and dragged researcher Kirsty Brown, causing injuries that led to her death—the first fatality after three recorded attacks.
9. Spitting Cobra
African spitting cobras grow up to 3 meters in length and have specifically adapted mouthparts, which allow them to spit venom over distances exceeding 2.5 meters. Snakes aim for the eyes of victims and release venom, which can effectively dissolve the eyes if the person does not receive immediate treatment. health care.
Scientists have determined that spitting cobras react even when they are shown fake faces. They hit the fake face's "eyes" eight out of ten times, releasing a very precise stream of poison with the force of a water pistol. Moreover, the worst thing is that a spitting cobra releases poison so quickly that a person does not have time to react. That is why, if you are planning a trip to the habitats of spitting cobras, do not forget to wear sunglasses.
8. Transiting killer whales
Killer whales are the most ferocious creatures of all marine mammals. They became famous for killing sharks, devouring giant baleen whales and swimming into tidal pools to catch seals. Although scientists and amateurs marine fauna It is often stated that "orcas are harmless to humans" - there is a danger that a potential threat that is fatal dangerous predators represent to humans are actually underestimated. Transiting killer whales or rogue killer whales prefer to hunt animals and can easily find a replacement for seals, their usual prey.
In 1972, a California surfer needed 100 stitches after being dragged away by a killer whale. More than thirty years later, a 7.6-meter killer whale attacked and mauled a boy from Canada. In yet another in a terrible case participated whole group killer whale, which tried with the help of movements own bodies, create a huge wave that would “wash” the scientists out of their boat. They use this tactic to catch seals sitting on ice floes. Despite the fact that killer whales have attacked very few people, it is possible that a small amount of incidents can only be explained by the fact that they did not have a suitable case...
7. Wolverine
Wolverines are exactly what nightmares are made of, and their ferocity deserves deep respect. They weigh only fifteen kilograms, look like some kind of small bears, and are not much different in size from a medium-sized dog, however, this lone hunter can take down a moose on his own and even kill a person.
In fact, the wolverine is a member of the mustelid family, however, it has special adaptations that allow it to rush forward at high speed and maim big catch digging into her jugular vein, hamstrings, or spine at the base of her skull. The teeth, which are disproportionately large and capable of crushing bone, can cause serious and usually fatal injuries to the victim. Wolverines almost never attack people, but they most likely do not do this due to their remoteness northern places habitat from humans. However, there have been several recorded deaths from wolverine bites throughout history, and the injuries they inflict on humans are usually very serious.
6. Killer Coyote
Agile coyotes, whose body is one and a half meters long and weighs 30 kilograms, can run at a speed of 64 kilometers per hour and jump over a distance of four meters. Over the past few decades, a huge number of coyote attacks on people, and especially children, have been recorded.
In a recent attack, a child was killed by a suburban coyote, and in another case Canadian performer pop music - Taylor Mitchell was killed and partially eaten by coyotes in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Recent injuries sustained in non-death coyote attacks include back injuries, severed ears, scalps, chewed bones, and eye injuries.
5. Great Eagle Owl
The Great Eagle Owl is a magnificent and sometimes ferocious predator endemic to the Americas. Weighing more than 1.8 kilograms and with a wingspan of one and a half meters, the Great Eagle Owl, also known as the “Flying Tiger,” hunts prey three times its size.
The great eagle owl uses its huge claws to hunt skunks and cats, and they have earned this 60cm predator the title of the only bird of prey, which caused fatal injuries to a person during the attack. The attack occurred when a scientist took some eggs from a nest for research, which caused the enraged predator to rush at the man and inflict mortal wounds, piercing his skull with her claws. Great eagle owls live from Alaska to Brazil and often occupy crow nests. Climbing into the nests of unfamiliar birds can have deadly consequences...
4. Giant anteater
The giant anteater is a strange mammal that lives primarily in grasslands and grasslands, endemic to South America. It can grow up to 1.8 meters in length and reach a weight of approximately 70 kilograms. Despite the fact that anteaters look completely ridiculous, and even cute in their own way, you should not hug or approach them.
Anteaters are physically adapted to tearing anthills to shreds, allowing their elephant trunk-like snout to pull out hundreds of ants. If an anteater is afraid of a person or any other animal, it is quite capable of quickly tearing apart an uninvited guest with its powerful paws and knife-sharp claws. In one incident, a sanctuary worker working to help these endangered animals was attacked and subsequently died from his injuries.
3. Irukandji Jellyfish
In some cases, it is not the size, strength or ferocity that makes an animal dangerous to humans, but its ability to hide, which allows it to sneak past us freely, and when we notice it, it is too late. While box jellyfish warnings are a mandatory part of beach placards, it's worth noting that there is another "tiny killer" to watch out for - the Irukandji jellyfish. This transparent and almost invisible creature, whose size is only one cubic centimeter, swims aimlessly through the waves, dragging behind it 60 centimeter tentacles, which contain venom that is a hundred times stronger than the venom of a cobra.
Swimmers who barely touch this invisible creature require emergency hospitalization, and two were reported in Australia in 2002. deaths. The Irukandji jellyfish even swims into UK coastal waters - meaning danger can be present almost anywhere...
2. California sea lion
Those trained fur seals we often see in circuses or aquarium shows are actually California sea lions, large marine mammals that live in western shores North America. Clever pinnipeds quickly learn to perform various tricks, but wildlife These 320 kg stuntmen, whose bodies reach 1.8 meters in length, can be quite dangerous. Males sea lions very aggressive and territorial, and there have been cases where they have attacked swimmers in coastal waters Pacific Ocean. In this region, there are far more cases of sea lion attacks on humans than cases of shark attacks. In 2004, a sea lion jumped into a fisherman's boat, pulled him off the boat and pulled him into the water - the man miraculously survived. The name “sea lion” was clearly given to him for a reason...
1. Asian carp
Asian carp are wild and fairly large relatives of the goldfish, reaching a weight of 45 kilograms and a length of more than 1.2 meters. These fish are endemic Asian rivers and the fact that they were brought to North America, turned out to be a big mistake: they flooded waterways and lakes in huge quantities.
Since the areas in which this fish settles usually coincide with the areas reserved for human recreation on the water, the habit of fish to jump high out of the water is a death threat. There have been many cases of motorboat drivers suffering serious head and body injuries due to huge carp jumping out of the water and hitting them. Injuries included broken bones, back injuries and black eyes. Government departments in the US and Canada have called for action to reduce the population of these killer carp before it becomes fatal...
Movies present killer whales as cute big creatures, capable of making friends with the boy and his friends, performing tricks without training and squealing pleasantly. But a kind killer whale is the same fairy tale as Santa Claus or Babai. Moreover, this animal is more similar to the latter in its disposition. In a pod, killer whales are friendly, stick to their family and do not look for partners on the outside. But if you displease the killer whale in some way, you will get a 6-7 meter monster with a mouth full of fangs.
In American aquariums you can interact with almost all the animals of the sea. There are stingrays, dolphins, fur seals, and penguins. Not without killer whales.
For now, about training these ferocious predators scientists didn't even think about it. But by pure chance, during experiments, American neurophysiologists discovered in these predators not just the ability, but true love to dancing. One day, to a young male scientists have given listen to Beethoven's violin concerto. Literally with the first sounds of music, the animal began to rush around the pool, dancing on its tail and jumping out of the water. He tumbled in every possible way on the water, stuck out his head and tail, and let out fountains of water. This love for Beethoven’s work brought killer whales into captivity in aquariums.
Killer whales are large dolphins. They are divided into three types according to size: large, black and ferez. The last one is the smallest - only 2 meters - and extremely rare. The black killer whale reaches 6 meters in length and weighs 1.5 tons. However, she prefers warm climate. Big killer whales- This is exactly the breed that took part in the filming of the film “Save Willy”. Among all her relatives, she is the most dangerous. In nature, a killer whale has no enemies, so there is no fear. She hunts birds, fur seals, seals, dolphins, squid and even sharks. IN extreme cases, the whole flock overwhelms the baleen whale. In pursuit of prey, killer whales are capable of reaching speeds of 30 km. at one o'clock. Killer whales communicate with high-frequency pulses similar to clicks. Echolocation is as important for them as it is for bats. Without it they are blind and deaf.
This is not to say that killer whales are bloodthirsty monsters. If ocean world equate to the savannah, then killer whales will be lions. Cases of killer whale attacks on humans in the open ocean are very rare. Over the past 30 years, only one case has been recorded - in 1986, a killer whale attacked a surfer. He survived, but lost his leg, which the killer whale injured with its teeth.
But in the American aquarium SeaWorld, tragic incidents involving killer whales occur year after year. Oceanarium trainers say that killer whales periodically try to bite or drag a person into the pool. But commands almost always help bring some sense into predators.
Nevertheless, tragic accident happened in 1987. Then, during the performance, the killer whale jumped out of the water and fell straight onto the trainer standing on the shore. As a result, he suffered a broken leg and several ribs. In the 90s, a killer whale grabbed trainer Mike Scarpuzzi by the leg and dragged him to the bottom. “It was a well-practiced trick,” said Mike, vice president of “ Water world" “According to the scenario, the killer whale jumped out of the water, and the trainer dived into the water from its nose. But the unexpected happened that day.”
Despite the team of trainers, the killer whale plunged Mike 10.9 meters under water. A minute later, both the prey and the predator reappeared on the surface, but the killer whale ignored all the commands and sank to the bottom again. Mike had 12 years of experience with killer whales and other marine animals. And this experience told me not to panic, to act as if everything was going according to plan. Overcoming the pain in his bitten leg, the trainer began stroking the killer whale with his usual movements. She loosened her grip and calmed down, after which Mike last bit of strength swam to the edge of the pool and was immediately given into the hands of doctors.
But the most tragic story happened this year. American company SeaWorld in Orlando was fined $75,000 this time. The reason for the fine was insufficient adherence to safety rules, which led to the death of 40-year-old trainer Dawn Brancheau. Information about the tragic incident was posted on the website of the US Department of Labor.
On February 24, 2010, a male named Tilikum grabbed his trainer by the hair during a performance and dived to the bottom of the pool. The woman choked on water. Many demanded that Telikum be euthanized, but management decided to leave the killer whale in the aquarium for brood. In fact, the animal is not dangerous to humans, since it did not intend to kill or eat the trainer.
This incident created a wave of fear among fans of performances with predators. And for good reason. Communication between humans and wild animals is pleasant entertainment. But it’s worth thinking about, is this entertainment so pleasant for the animals themselves?
I sometimes hear phrases like “Oh my God, a killer whale attacked a man, a monster!” or “these pilot whales are dangerous, you remember that incident?”
Since I know a little about marine biology and I love representatives of the dolphin family with a deep and strong love, I could not pass by this interesting topic.
Let's start with something simple.
The two most popular species in the context of marine mammal cruelty are the killer whales and pilot whales I already mentioned.
Let's start with killer whales.
Firstly, there are discrepancies in the Russian name of this species: killer whale or killer whale. I always say and write the first option, but the second is also popular.
Orcinus orca - the largest of the dolphin family. Length from 4-5 meters to 9-10 (males). Herd animals. Predators. Very smart. They hunt fish (including sharks) and mammals (fur seals, dolphins, whales).
They are trainable and loved by the public, especially children. They have a bad habit of sometimes being naughty, but more on that later.
Pilot whales - from 4 to 10 meters, also gregarious. Also predators. Also very smart. As far as I know, they most often hunt fish. I have not seen any mention of keeping them in dolphinariums.
So. What we have: two types of large and intelligent predators with their own language and culture (non-believers can watch the film Jaws Slayer produced by NG). Or this video:
And people.
A lot has been said about human behavior in the company of wild animals, so I’ll get straight to the point.
Here is a video of a pilot whale attacking a person (watch from the fourth minute). It is worth noting that the people who took part in this meeting with the pilot whales chased the animals for a very long time, not allowing them to swim away into the open sea.
As you may have noticed, the pilot whale did not seek to kill or maim. She very correctly and carefully (I’m not even sure that she bit the unfortunate diver’s leg) grabbed the obsessive fan by the leg and just as carefully dragged her under the water. But she could easily tear a person into pieces, mutilate her, or hold her under water until the girl suffocated.
But instead, the pilot whale dragged the man all the way to the surface of the water and only then let him go. And just as calmly she swam away with her flock.
And this is called aggression and attack? It seems to me that it was a warning shot, without blood and without violence, just an unobtrusive show of force by those tired of persistent animal fans.
Now killer whales.
It’s more difficult here, since it’s no secret that black and white dolphins sometimes become very aggressive and often, alas, kill their trainers.
But if they are about hundred attack, then they behave as if hunting seals. That is, it either tries to create a wave that will cover the victim and disorientate it. Or it jumps out of the water and falls on the unfortunate animal (if we talk about seals) from above (you understand, five tons falling on you is not the most pleasant thing in life). By the way, this tactic, along with the practice of ramming headbutts, is used by killer whales when hunting whales.
Example of seal hunting (watch from 1:30).
And an example of an attack on something larger (here, by mistake, a killer whale attacked a kayak).
As we see, if a killer whale wants to kill, it kills. In one aquarium, a killer whale attacked its trainer three times, but never seriously injured him. And, on the other hand, there are cases where orca's quite deliberately attacked and killed their trainers.
But almost every attack was provoked by something: stress, physical discomfort, anxiety among members of the flock (if several mammals lived in the aquarium), a feeling of danger when contacting an audience or a trainer.
Not a single normal and healthy animal will ever attack without a very, very good reason. Because in any direct conflict there is always the possibility of serious injury, which will jeopardize the ability to obtain food, and, therefore, the chances of survival will also be jeopardized.
So what's the problem? It seems to me that people tend to forget that dolphins are not lap dogs like Chihuahuas, but dangerous and smart predators. And forgetting about this is simply dangerous to health.
But nothing prevents us from enjoying the sight of these beautiful creatures.
Illustration copyright Liam Quinn
Navy seals were caught having extreme sex: they tried to perform sexual acts with penguins. The correspondent tried to figure out what caused the sudden interclass sex in Antarctica.
Tempers are heating up in the cold Antarctic as fur seals display extreme forms of sexual behavior on a remote and largely deserted island.
They try to have sex with penguins.
More than one cat has been spotted doing this, and more than once. The researchers filmed the process and described their observations in the journal Polar Biology.
This behavior of the fur seals, however, did not shock the specialists who carried out the observations. The first time a fur seal was filmed attempting to copulate with a king penguin was back in 2006 on Marion Island in Antarctica, where both species live. The case was described; scientists, having studied what happened, suggested that the cat was inexperienced in sex. Or it was the aggressive behavior of a predator. Or an attempt to play, which turned into a sexual one.
However, new cases recorded in the work " Numerous cases sexual abuse of king penguins by Kerguelen fur seals,” scientists were still surprised.
"To be honest, I didn't expect the 2006 event to ever happen again, much less multiple times," says Nico de Brun of the Institute of Mammal Research at South Africa's University of Pretoria.
Illustration copyright Thebeccamurray Image caption Penguins are increasingly becoming victims of sexual violenceExperts regularly conduct observations of the island's fauna, trying to detect rare or uncharacteristic behavior.
A team of researchers led by de Brun and William Haddad observed young fur seals engaging in sexual acts with healthy penguins of unknown sex on three occasions.
Two of the incidents occurred in Goodhope Bay and another at Funk Beach. The 2006 incident was recorded at another beach, Tripot Beach.
“We are seriously interested,” de Brun commented on the latest cases.
All four incidents are similar. Each time, the seal catches and catches the penguin, and then climbs onto it. The cat tries to copulate with the bird several times, for about five minutes at a time, resting in between.
Penguins copulate through the cloaca, and seals seem to have managed to get there in some cases, too. Haddad captured the incidents on video.
In three of the four cases, the seals released the penguins. However, one day a cat killed a penguin and ate it after intercourse.
On this island, fur seals often hunt penguins for food.
Illustration copyright Thinkstock Image caption These penguins prefer to stay away from the catApart from these incidents, science knows of no cases where pinnipeds mammals(These include seals, fur seals and sea lions) would try to have sex with a representative of another biological class- in this case with birds.
Scientists can only guess what explains this behavior of fur seals.
But recent observations suggest that in the island's seal population, sexual abuse of penguins may be a learned behavior.
“Seals can learn, as seen in their foraging behavior,” explains de Brun.
Therefore, it is possible that, observing the sexual attacks of fellow penguins, other fur seals also decide to try.
This would explain why such incidents are happening more frequently. But de Brun says there are other mysteries: “If this is a learned behavior, then we don't understand why it is useful for young males, unless they learn that these birds are a more accessible simulator for practicing sexual skills.”
The seals filmed, the scientist says, were not old or large enough to form their own harems of females.
"Perhaps this is the realization of sexual desire, especially taking into account the hormonal levels in mating season. It is very unlikely that they mistake the penguin for a female fur seal. Although it’s hard to say,” admits the specialist.
Sea lion - representatives of the eared seal family received their name due to their close resemblance to land lions. Male sea lions make growl-like noises. African lion. On their heads you can see the same shaggy manes. A pinniped (in Latin, “with legs like fins”) is streamlined, bulky, but flexible and slender, capable of reaching more than two meters in length. Let's get to know the marine life better in the article.
Sea lion - description and characteristics
Many people are interested in how much an adult sea lion weighs? The weight of the flipper mammal reaches 300 kg. Although the sea lion is quite bulky and looks too big and clumsy, it feels great for its weight. Female sea lions are much smaller than males by several times - on average 90 kg. Animal's head small size, looks like the head of a dog: an elongated, flexible neck, huge bulging eyes. There are large, dense whiskers on the muzzle. On the top of the head of a lion there is a real hairstyle - a crest.
The fur of sea creatures has a brown-black tint. The coat is quite short and sparse, so it is not particularly valued, unlike the fur of fur seals. Thanks to the presence of thick limbs-flippers, animals move deftly along the shore. Their relatives, seals, are not as nimble as lions. The body of animals is much more plastic than that of their relatives.
Sea lions easily overcome long distances in the water and show real acrobatic feats. With the help of flippers they maneuver professionally in water spaces and easily redirect the bulky body in any direction. In this way, obtaining food is not difficult, and the marine life has won the title of successful getter. When going in search of food, a lion can swim several kilometers from the shore.
Typically, lions settle on sea and ocean coasts, regardless of cover. These may be rocky shores and sandy beaches. It can even be found in grass thickets.
Depending on the type of lion, animals can live on various territories:
- The northern sea lion Steller lives on the Pacific coast and islands nearby. They prefer Canada, USA, Japan. On the banks, animals live in large herds.
- New Zealand lions prefer to live in the subantarctic islands near New Zealand. Most of relaxing on the beaches of Auckland.
- California sea lions have settled in the northern waters of the Pacific Ocean.
- Southern view a regular on the shores and ocean waters of South American regions.
- Australian lions establish rookeries in the south and west of Australia.
It is also worth mentioning that Marine life have long found their place in dolphinariums and circuses. A fur seal and a sea lion take part in show performances in aquariums and learn to perform various tricks. It is often believed that these cute animals are absolutely safe. Is a sea lion a predator? In the wild, a 300-kilogram trickster can be quite dangerous. The sea lion is a predator, quite aggressive. There are cases when they attacked fishermen and swimmers. It is even known more cases lion attacks than shark attacks.
Like all relatives, predators live in herds, but their numbers are not as high as those of their comrades - seals. Some species can swim for a long time in open waters and not return to shore for several days. Therefore, when traveling long distances on a ship, you can see these animals in the middle of the ocean or sea.
Sea lions prefer to stay in the places they initially chose, without “wandering” from place to place. They live several tens of kilometers from land and communicate with each other using sound calls. Their voices are similar to the roar of land lions.
What does a sea lion eat?
What does the inhabitant of the “big” waters, the sea lion, eat? It feeds on seafood: fish, octopuses, crayfish and any edible little things that come across along the way. They find prey at the bottom of the sea and ocean, at a depth of up to 100 meters. When a lion runs into a hedgehog fish, it swells to such a size that the lion cannot bite through it with its limited mouth.
The fish are chased at high speed, maneuvering between shells, algae and sea caves. In the expanses of water, lions move as easily as birds fly across the sky, actively paddling with their forelimbs and hind flippers.
Marine inhabitants do not accumulate large layers of fat and do not eat in reserve. They eat fresh seafood every day and have no problems finding food.
If marine mammals If they are on a hill, they can easily jump from it into the water from a height of up to 20 meters. The favorite delicacy, one of the varieties of lions - sea lions, are: herring, pollock, capelin, halibut, gobies, flounder. The long-eared family can eat seaweed, octopuses. Since a lion is a predator, it can even attack a shark. Adult males, if they are very hungry, can attack the penguin.
Some fishermen testify that sea lions have attacked their catch.
Sea lion breeding
The mating season occurs once a year right on the shores where sea lions live. They behave much calmer than, for example, fur seals. Males occupy the beach territory and protect it from strangers. Sometimes sea lions fight with competitors, trying to win their rights to females. Females gather in whole herds and wait to see who will become the strongest inseminating male.
Sometimes battles reach large-scale proportions. However, there is no death or bloodshed. Although, as with everything, there are exceptions. When young males want to penetrate a herd of older females, large males protect their harem. Violent skirmishes then occur where some lions may emerge from the fight with injuries.
Each male gathers around a dozen females. The owner is vigilant to ensure that his “ladies” do not look at other males and especially do not have relationships with them. Those individuals that do not reproduce move away from the rest of the rookery. When the female comes into heat, she lies down next to the chosen male and presses tightly against his body. Without taking their eyes off the lion, they begin to mate. This happens in water or on land within an hour.
Pregnancy of lionesses lasts 12 months. They give birth to small sea lion cubs, and at the same time they begin to mate again with males. The female is ready for the next pregnancy within 2 weeks after giving birth.
Lion cubs are born with golden-colored fur and weigh 20 kilograms. At first, the female mother does not separate from the newborn. When she becomes pregnant again, she moves away from the baby and begins to swim out into the sea waters, losing interest in her newborn lion cub. Those females who continue to feed their babies with 30% fat milk remain with the babies for 6-7 months.
After giving birth, the female carefully licks the baby, passing on her scent to him, so as not to confuse him with other newborns. In the first half hour, she exchanges sound passwords with the lion cub, which help to find the cub.
Lifespan of sea lions
How long does a sea lion live? After the animal begins to molt, the young individuals gather in a separate herd. They live separately until they reach sexual maturity. Females reach maturity at 2.5-3 years. Males undergo serious competition, so they can acquire a harem only after 5 years. The life expectancy of a mammal is 20 years.
Difference between sea lions and seals
The difference between a sea lion and a seal is obvious. The two types of relatives differ from each other in their way of life. The differences are as follows:
- sea lions maneuver more deftly in the water; these animals are quite dexterous and flexible “acrobats”;
- Their skins are also different. Lions have scanty fur coats and small fat reserves, which cannot be said about fur seals. Therefore, seals are hunted much more often, and in Japan one of the species of these animals was even completely destroyed;
- there are 5 species of lions and 8 species of seals;
- Lions have large, long flippers and a massive body. Smaller fur seals.
It is worth noting that there are also a lot of similarities. Taking into account the generic community, as well as external similarities. The Southern sea lion has similarities with seals: males have a crest on their heads, the same as that of seals.
Enemies of sea lions
The lives of lions are significantly shortened by sharks and killer whales. Predators can reach speeds of up to 55 km/h. Killer whales are the most aggressive look toothed whales and are considered the most dangerous enemies for sea lions.
Animals may die earlier from collisions with ships. Sea lions are very smart and quick-witted; they, suspecting danger from sharks, seek help from people! There were cases when the animal swam up to the yachts and asked to save her, showing it with all his appearance.
Lions are lucky in that their fur is not valued by fishermen. And they are not economically profitable for manufacturing enterprises.
Types of sea lions
There are five species of marine life:
- Northern;
- Southern;
- Californian;
- Australian;
- New Zealand.
Northern
The northern sea lion also has another name - sea lion. This species lives on the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, and Alaska. Of all the subspecies of sea lions, the sea lion is the largest subspecies with pronounced sexual characteristics.
This view is truly enormous. Adult males reach a length of 3-3.5 meters and a weight of up to 500-1000 kg. Females are much smaller, but relative to other subspecies they are very large. Weight is 250-350 kg. Representatives have a light red skin color. Females are very graceful, flexible, and have a small head.
The difference between this species and the others is determined by socialization. They live only on northern shores and coastal areas. Sometimes they are found on ice floes. They are localized and do not migrate to other territories.
The annual cycle of animals is divided into periods: migration to the sea and stay on land. Male sea lions become capable of breeding at about 5 years of age, but are allowed to approach females only at 7-8 years of age. Mating begins from late May to early June.
Reproduction is based on the fertilization of many females by one male. This type of sea lion does not actively protect its harem. They are “selfish” and in a harem they solve only their own needs. After the birth of the baby, the females mate again 10 days later.
The diet consists of shellfish and fish. Sometimes they attack fur seals. In Russia, this species is listed in the Red Book, as it is on the verge of extinction. Scientists attributed this situation to poor ecology.
Californian
The California sea lion lives in the North Pacific Ocean and is also called the northern sea lion. There are 190 thousand of them. Every year their number increases by 5%.
Lions differ from other species in their unique intelligence and adaptability to any situation. Even if disasters occur in nature, animals quickly rebuild and survive. They can often be found in aquariums, circuses, and zoos. He is easy to train and is friendly with humans, despite his predatory roots. This the only kind, which can survive in a limited area.
Sea lions trained in a special way took part in military maritime operations. Demolition mechanisms were installed on animals.
The California sea lion is the king of marine life. Outside the mating season, males and young lions move north, while females remain with their cubs in rookeries or go south. Therefore, females and males stay apart and meet only once a year.
Animals spend their time free from food production on the shore. They are real sleepyheads and love to have a good night's sleep, lounging around each other. During the daytime, they massage themselves on stones or scratch their neighbors with their claws.
The California lion's diet consists of marine life: squid, salmon and herring. Small fish The lion swallows right in the depths of the sea, and eats large prey on land. If a large school of fish is found, the lions go hunting together.
In the 16th century, meat and animal skins were much more in demand than they are now. At this time, animals began to be exterminated en masse and the population decreased noticeably.
The mating season is from May to September. At this time, lions become especially active and settle down on the beach with their harem. They give birth to a cub weighing up to 6 kg and 70 cm long. One female has one lion cub.
- the animal swims 30 km/h and with more higher speed can move along the shore;
- can hold his breath depths of the sea for 10 minutes and dive under water to a depth of 250 m.
Southern
The southern subspecies of sea lion is representative of the South American regions. The male reaches almost 3 meters in length, weighing up to 300 kg. Females are much smaller, up to 100 kg. The skin is dark brown, lighter underneath. The head, neck, and shoulders are covered with a large tuft of lush hair.
live southern lions on the Falkland Islands, on the shores South America, parts of Brazil. IN sea waters They catch squid, octopus, and fish. They often attack penguins. According to scientists, only the southern subspecies will attack penguins.
During breeding, a lion's harem can include up to 15-18 females. Males closely monitor their females and make sure that they do not move into a neighboring harem. Males from other areas constantly want to steal their neighbor's female into their harem.
Sea lions give birth to one pup weighing 15 kg. After 3-4 days, the females leave to get food, and the babies are left alone. If they get hungry, other females feed them.
Animals die because of sharks, killer whales, at the hands of fishermen and because of chemicals that enter the ocean.
Australian
Individuals of the Australian subspecies are smaller than their counterparts. The male is 2.5 meters long and weighs about 300 kg, and the female is 1.5 meters long and weighs up to 100 kg. Females and males differ from each other even in color: dark brown in sea lions and silver in lionesses.
Animals are located along the coast of Australia and the nearest islands. They do not migrate and stick to the places where they originally settled, even outside the breeding season. The most long distance migration reached no more than three hundred kilometers.
In terms of their behavior during the mating season, the lion subspecies does not differ from its direct relatives. When males come to a herd of females, they win the right to the harem they like. Clashes constantly occur in herds over young males who want to get someone else's lioness. Males of the Australian lion are highly aggressive; they, like “jealous men,” guard their females so that they do not leave their range. They drive away other males with particular enthusiasm, sometimes leading to slaughter.
An individual of this species is considered very rare. There are only twelve thousand sea lions.
New Zealand
A predatory mammal from the eared seal family. The skin is painted black with a brownish tint. Thanks to the mane on the shoulders, they look quite large up to 2.5 m, females up to 1.8 m. Distributed on the subtropical islands near New Zealand. The name of the subspecies indicates their territorial location. Most often found in Auckland.
The behavior is no different from other subspecies of sea lions. They also organize fights in mating season and protect their grief from the “hungry” young animals. The most dexterous and tenacious individuals win, the rest are forced into unpromising places.
There are about fifteen thousand New Zealand lions. In the 19th century, the animals were caught by fishermen and massacred. In almost a few decades, the number has decreased fivefold. These individuals were first mentioned in 1806. Today they are protected.
Interesting facts about sea lions
Interesting facts about the sea lion:
- animals have a hoarse and rather sharp, rough voice;
- in Japan there is a male who has a very thin and gentle voice, which is unusual for sea lions. Visitors to the aquarium come to listen to his songs;
- mammals are real intellectuals and actors;
- communicate with each other using a certain set of sounds. They use the same sounds to warn each other about danger;
- Most often, California lions are prone to lungworm disease. Even 50 years ago it led to the death of animals;
- According to the laws, it is allowed to catch animals for zoos and circus performances. Sea creatures also participate in medical experiments due to their ability to hold their breath for a long time under water;
- the animal's dental jaw has the same canonical form and is adapted to grip slippery food.
Sea lions are worthy of attention. The most interesting pinnipeds can be seen in aquariums and circuses. There they are trained and safe for people. However, in the wild it is better not to try to stroke their fur. It is fraught with sad consequences.