Often mistaken for seals, these adorable marine mammals are found in oceans all around the world.
Sea lions are famous for being vocal creatures, although scientists don’t really understand what their barks, growls and grunts actually mean.
How much do sea lions weigh?
An average male Californian sea lion typically weighs around 660 pounds (300 kg).
Females weigh a lot less than males, coming in at approximately 220 pounds (100 kg).
Sea lions belong to a group of animals called pinnipeds, together with seals and walruses.
The largest species of all is the Steller sea lion, which can weigh up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg).
Other species include Californian, South American, Japanese, Australian, Galapagos and New Zealand sea lions. Sadly, the latter three are considered to be endangered.
Sea lions live in waters all over the globe, except for the North Atlantic Ocean.
As social creatures, they are rarely found alone and usually travel in large colonies. Individuals are known to move through different subgroups throughout their lifetime.
Sea lions have long, torpedo-like bodies, which makes it easy for them to glide through water, and large front flippers for walking on land.
Amazingly, sea lions can swim at speeds of up to 25 mph.
~ Fun Fact ~
While defending their territory, male sea lions can go one to two months without eating food!
Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_lion
https://dolphins.org/kids_sea_lion_facts
http://www.sealioncaves.com/sea-lions.php