Sea Lions & SealsJamie Barry, Maggie Haas, & Olivia Sanchez

PinnipediaAll true seals and sea lions belong to the clade Pinnipedia. This clade is comprised of three families - Odobenidae (Walruses), Otariidae

(Eared Seals), and Phocidae (True Seals). The term “seal” commonly refers to the order Pinnipedia, however both sea lions and

walruses are also classified as Pinnipeds.

Pinnipedia (“Seals”)

OdobenidaeWalruses

Otariidae (Eared Seals) Fur seals, sea lions

Phocidae (True Seals)Ringed seals, harbor seals, spotted seals, elephant seals, other

true sealsFrom the Latin pinna, feather

or wing, and ped-, foot

Who are the Pinnipeds?There are currently 33 species of extant pinnipeds, each one exhibiting a few notable

characteristics that distinguish them from other marine mammals.

● They are carnivorous aquatic placental mammals that heavily rely on the use of

flipper-like front feet for swimming. ● The hands and feet of the pinniped are

elongated and their digits are connected by webs of skin to act as flippers.

● Unlike most other marine species, the pinniped tail is very basic in function, as its steering is controlled by backward-facing hind

feet.

Pinnipeds are adapted to feed on fish, mollusks, as well as other forms of marine

mammal life.

Photo by: http://www.pressherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/811802_US_NEWS_ENV-SEALIONS_1_LA.jpg

WalrusesOdobenus rosmarus

● These marine mammals are extremely sociable and can usually be found loudly bellowing and snorting at

one another● Only Native Americans are currently allowed to hunt

walruses, as the species' survival was threatened by past overhunting

● Can live up to 40 years in the wild● Can weigh up to 1.5 tons 6

● Adult walruses are easily recognized by their prominent tusks, whiskers, and bulkiness

● This species is subdivided into three subspecies○ The Atlantic walrus, the Pacific walrus, and

the O. r. laptevi● Has a discontinuous distribution about the North Pole

in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere 7

Photo by: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walrus

Sea OttersEnhydra lutris

● Member of the Weasel Family

● Sea otters have the densest fur in the animal kingdom, ranging from 250,000 to a million hairs per

square inch○ This is because they don’t have blubber to

help keep them warm● Sea otters are a keystone species

● Sea otters eat urchins, abalone, mussels, clams, crabs, snails and about 40 other marine species

● Native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean

● Hunted extensively for their fur between 1741 and 1911, and the world population fell to 1,000–2,000

individuals living in a fraction of their historic range¹

Sea otters are not classified as pinnipeds due to their padded feet, their lack of true flippers, and their thick, dark fur.

Photo by: https://www.thinglink.com/scene/694511142789185536

Sea Lions

Photo by: http://a-z-animals.com/animals/sea-lion/

Quick Facts● Life span: 20 to 30 years● Gestation: 8 to 18 months, depending

on species● Number of young at birth: Usually

one, rarely two● Size: Females are 4 to 9 feet long;

males are 6.5 to 11 feet● Weight: Females are 110 to 600

pounds; males are 440 to 2,200 pounds 14

Photo by: http://justcuteanimals.com/post/7614

Sea Lions in Alaska

What are the different species?●

California Sea LionZalophus Californianus

-54 reported in Alaska from 1974-2004 8

Steller Sea LionEumatopias Jubatus

-The most common species found in Alaska

-Also known as “Winnaq” by the Alutiiq people 9

Photo by: http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/pinnipeds/steller-sea-lion/

Photo by: https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/project/explore-sandy-beach-ecosystems-of-southern-california/sandy-beach-plants-and-animals/marine

California Sea Lion

● They can primarily be found on the western coasts of Canada, the United

States and Mexico 8

● Scientists have discovered 5 distinct variations of California Sea Lions: Southern Central California stock,

Northern Gulf stock, Pacific Tropical stock, Pacific Temperate Stock and the

Western Baja California stock● Although there are some slight

variations in habitat and location, California Sea Lions share the majority of their attributes, such as eating and mating behavior, with Steller Sea Lions

8 Photo by: http://www.pittsburghzoo.org/animal.aspx?id=122

What do Sea Lions eat?

● Diets depend on region and time of year, but some species remain constant in a Sea Lion diet such as: Arrowtooth

Flounder, Walleye Pollock, Atka Mackerel & Cephalopods

○ Referred to as opportunistic hunters● Popular prey during certain times of year:

Pacific cod, salmon and herring● Occasionally eat true seals for “variety”● They have the ability to eat prey in its

entirety while under water○ Special teeth

● Scientists study Sea Lion scat for answers 9

Photos by:https://mu-peter.blogspot.com/2014/01/cerebral-cephalopods-heady-head-feet.htmlhttp://www.elasmodiver.com/Pacific_Cod_Pictures.htmhttps://teacheratsea.wordpress.com/tag/mary-murrian-2/

Migration and Breeding

● Sea Lions do not migrate, but instead shift their central locations to have easier access to different types of prey

throughout the year● Rookeries are the optimal spot for summer breeding → then move to more secure haulouts (pieces of land) during the

winter months● Don’t tend to travel extraordinary distances

→ Pups can only swim approximately 75 miles, non-stop

○ Longest route ever recorded = 1,600 miles from Forrester Island to Cape

Newenham 9 Photo by: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hauling-out

Life of a Sea Lion

● Although initially born with dark fur, Sea Lions lighten over time, most often resulting in a pale yellow

color (and some end up a reddish color) 9

● Male Sea Lions are easier to spot because of their large bodies

(heavy weight), muscular necks and broad foreheads

● Females grow at a rapid pace within the first 4 years, and then plateau, meanwhile the males can

continue even after their 10th year9 9

Photo by: Maggie Haas

The life of a Sea Lion cont.

● Sea Lions divide their time between land (rookeries) where they rest and

nurse the pups, and water ● Pups learn to fast while the mothers

hunt (1-2 day trips)● Swimming and diving techniques come

with age● Mature Sea lions can dive more than

1,500 feet and stay underwater for at least 16 minutes

● They use their back flippers to change direction and the front flippers

to gain speed 9 Photo by: http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-photos/seal-or-sea-lion

Sea Lion Habitats

● Sea Lions settle in more than 300 haulouts, with preference

towards secluded islands that can protect them from predators○ Females tend to chose the

same haulouts to give birth● Habitats can range from the

North Pacific Rim of Japan to the East of the Aleutian Islands towards the Bering Sea, and

South to the Channel Islands off of California 9

Photo by: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/steller-sea-lion/

Seals

Photo by: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbor_seal

Quick Facts● Life span: 25-30 years● Gestation: 10 months● Number of young at birth: One pup

per year ● Size: Smallest species is 3-4 feet

long (baikal seal), largest is 13-16 feet long (elephant seal)

● Weight: smallest is ringed seal (110-115 lbs) and the largest is elephant seal (2,000 lbs for females, up to 8,500 lbs for males) 8,9

Fully grown male elephant seal

Photo by :http://www.seals-world.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Northern-elephant-seal_624.jpg

Seals Found in Alaska

● The Pacific Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and the Northern Fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) are the two species of seal that can be found off the coast of

Southern Alaska. ● Ice Seals, which include Ringed

seals, Harp seals, and Spotted seals, can be found in Arctic regions of Northern Alaska

Harbor Seal Range

Northern Fur Seal Range

Photo by: http://www.seattleaquarium.org/view.image?Id=2150

Photo by: https://www.defenders.org/sites/default/files/northern-fur-seal-range-map.jpg

Ice Seals● Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida) are among the smallest

of the pinnipeds and are known for living in ice lairs in large snowdrifts to hide from predators

○ They are the most common and widespread seal in the Arctic

● Ribbon Seals (Phoca fasciata) are closely related to Harbor Seals and are the rarest seal found in the Arctic. They are known for the 3 large bands of

white coloration found on their bodies● Spotted Seals (Phoca largha) are often confused

with Harbor Seals due to their similar coloration and geographic range, however, they give birth to their pups on sea ice, while the Harbor Seals give birth

on land● Bearded Seals (Erignathus barbatus) are the largest

species of seal found in Alaska and are vital to coastal Alaskan villages due to the fact that they provide needed meat, oil, and skins to the native

communities 17

A Ribbon Seal

Photo by :https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/ribbonseal_closeup_sm.jpg?itok=gr5p30S0

Diet● Harbor seals and Fur seals will

congregate in intertidal zones and harbors to find squid, crustaceans, mollusks, and a variety of fish,

including rockfish, herring, flounder, salmon, hake, and sand lance. 8

● Rather than chewing their food, these seals will eat their food

whole or tear it into larger chunks before swallowing it.

○ Strengthened back molars are responsible for crushing shells

and crustaceans. 10, 11

Each day, the Harbor seal consumes about 5-6% of its body weight.

Additionally, these seals rely on food as their primary water source, as they are

unable to consume salt water 10

Photo by: http://i.cbc.ca/1.2951993.1423595819!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/4x3_620/seal-vs-octopus-1-slide-5.jpg

MatingFur Seals● Each year, male Fur seals stake out breeding

grounds early in the mating season (Late Spring). During this time, they remain very protective of territory and often use violence

to establish dominance● Pregnant females typically arrive a month

after the males, ready to give birth to their pup

● After only two days, the females are ready to mate, and the cycle begins again 9, 11

Harbor Seals● Harbor seals mate when they are 3-7 years

old and mating season runs from late spring into the early fall

● During mating season, sexually mature harbor seals express mating behavior toward others

and copulation occurs 8

Seal pups quickly develop independence from their mothers, typically within 3-6

weeks!

Photo by: http://www.zooborns.com/.a/6a010535647bf3970b015431e82c36970c-500wi

Behavior

● Harbor seals can dive to depths of up to 300 ft and are capable of diving for 5-10 mins at a time

● The Harbor seal’s eyes are well adapted to see in dark underwater conditions - their vision is stronger

underwater than above!! 8

● Every Harbor seal is equipped with vibrissae, whisker-like features used to detect the presence of fish

underwater● The harbor seal will "haul-out" of the water and rest

on rocks or floating pieces of ice to rest for long periods of time 15, 16

● Northern fur seals are not deep divers either; they usually dive up to about 200 feet and their maximum

dives are about 600 feet● The Northern Fur seal is pelagic, meaning that they

spend most of their time in the open ocean. As a result, they cannot always find a place to “haul out” and rest

● Instead, they use a behavior called “jughandling” to rest. To perform this behavior, they keep their front and rear flippers out of the water while gently bobbing on

the surface of the ocean88

Photo by: http://www.itsnature.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/harbor-seal_8057.jpg

Photo by: http://www.marinebiophotography.com/Sea-Lions-Seals-the-Pinnipeds/Northern-Fur-Seal/i-4ghk9Kv/1/XL/Callorhinus%20ursinus%20northern%20fur%20seal%20jug%20handle%20on%20surface%

202009%2011-15%20SC%20Bight%20-%20012-XL.jpg

Spotting the Difference

Seals

The "true" seals lack external ears.

Seals are quieter, vocalizing via soft grunts.

Both spend time in & out of the water, however, seals are better adapted to live in the water than on land.

Seals are less social. They can lead solitary lives out in the wild, coming ashore together only once a year to mate.

Sea Lions

Sea lions have small flaps for outer ears.

Sea lions are noisy.

Sea lions are able to "walk" on land by rotating their hind flippers forward and underneath themselves.

Sea lions congregate in groups that can reach up to 1,500 individuals. ²

The Impact of Climate Change Antarctic Peninsula Warming

Surface air temperatures

rising Sea ice extents declining

Krill need ice● Regional krill abundance correlates with the sea ice

extent from the previous winter a. Total sea ice cover relates to the amount of

favorable habitatb. Krill need the packed ice during the early

stages of their life to help them evade predators

● Krill is a vital food for many sea animals, and the impact that the lack of krill can have on other

animals will ultimately affect seals, as well● Crabeater, Leopard and Weddell seals are all likely to

decline as ice shrinks and krill decline ³

Seals and Sea Ice Arctic ice extents shrinking

dramatically in summer months

Many seals are adapted to use ice as breeding and

resting substrates ³ Photo by: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Average_Monthly_Arctic_Sea_Ice_Extent_-_September_1979_-_2012.png

Light Ice Years

Seals enter water early

Seals pup on sub-optimal substrates

Seals are crushed in ice, die of hypothermia, or starve ³

Photo by: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0068779

Threats to Seals● Human disturbance

○ Seal hunt and intentional killing, whether it be for sport or personal comfort

● Victims of bycatch in fisheries● Introduced species, such as dogs, carry diseases that can

spread to sea lions 5

● Although the Western stock has declined, the Eastern stock has experienced a

population increase○ Establishment of new

rookeries (primarily for breeding)

● Most seals are not considered endangered

○ However, the Galápagos fur seal and the monk

seal are both endangered 4

Photo by: http://abcnews.go.com/International/antarctic-weddell-seal-pups-kiss-viral-instagram/story?id=29591625

Short video on the

threats that Sea Lions

face

Seal Hunting ● Seal hunting, or sealing, is the personal or commercial hunting of seals

● Seals are hunted commercially in Canada, The United States, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Finland, and Sweden○ Canada has become the center of

the sealing debate because of the comparatively large size of its hunt

● In 2007, Norway claimed that 29,000 harp seals were killed in its seal hunt, and

Russia and Greenland claimed that 5,476 and 90,000 seals were killed, respectively○ The actual kills in recent years have

been less than the quotas 4

Photo by: http://liberationbc.org/issues/seal_hunt

Seal Hunting Cont.● Seals have been used for their pelts, flesh, and

their fat○ Fat was often used as lamp fuel, lubricants,

cooking oil, and in soap● Current rates of decline suggest that the seal

hunt will end in 10-20 years 4○ Ice declines result in fewer seals, higher

mortality rates, and less land that hunters can access ³

○ The hunt remains highly controversial, attracting significant media coverage and

protests each year○ Canadian seal hunting issues were spotlighted in the months leading up to the

2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver 4

Photo by: http://w

ww

.dailymail.co.uk/new

s/article-3002604/C

ute-melt-stoniest-hearts-B

aby-seals-just-days-old-pictured-rolling-snow

-exploring-surroundings.html

Photo by: https://w

ww

.buzzfeed.com/lyapalater/seal-pups-

that-will-m

ake-you-want-to-rip-your-hair

¹ "Sea Otter." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_otter>.

² "What's the Difference between Seals and Sea Lions?" National Ocean Service. NOAA, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/seal-sealion.html>.

³ Johnston, David W. "On Thin Ice: Climate Change and Pagophilic Seals." Lecture. Duke University, Durham. 2015. Lecture.

4 "Seal Hunting." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_hunting>.

5 "Sea Lions." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sea-lions>.

6 "Walruses, Walrus Pictures, Walrus Facts - National Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/walrus/>.

7 "Walrus." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walrus>.

Works Cited8 "The Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses." The Marine Mammal Center, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/pinnipeds>

9 "Seals - Facts, Life Span, Diet & Habitat Information." Animal Corner. Animal Corner, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <https://animalcorner.co.uk/animals/seals/>

10 "Pinnipeds - Seals, Sea Lions and Walruses." Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Communications Branch. Government of Canada, 13 Apr. 2016. Web. 24 July 2016. <http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/mammals-mammiferes/pinnipeds-eng.htm>

11 "Facts About Seals & Sea Lions." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <http://www.livescience.com/27870-seals.html>

12 "The Marine Mammal Center." California Sea Lion. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2016.http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/pinnipeds/california-sea-lion/?referrer=https://www.google.com/

Works Cited13 "Steller Sea Lion Species Profile, Alaska Department of Fish and Game." Steller Sea Lion Species Profile, Alaska Department of Fish and Game. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=stellersealion.main

14 "Mammals | Sea Lion." Sea Lion. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/sea-lion>.

15 "Harbor Seal - Phoca Vitulina." New Hampshire Public Television. NHPT, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <http://www.nhptv.org/wild/harborseal.asp>

16 "Harbor Seal." Mac Como Zoo. Macalester University, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <http://www.macalester.edu/~montgomery/HarborSeal.html>

17 "What Are Ice Seals?" North-Slope.Org. North Slope Borough, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. <http://www.north-slope.org/departments/wildlife-management/co-management-organizations/ice-seal-committee/what-are-ice-seals>