in the group of the ear-seals compares the sea-bears the sea-lions or hair-seals one as fur-seals, since they distinguish themselves through the property of a dense sub-wool, that makes its fur very valuable. The sea-bears possess another difference to the sea-lions in its rear-feet. 5 equally-long toes show these namely. Finally still is the essentially more pointed muzzle mentioned. The fur of the animals is more or less monochrome brown, natural however very much dark in the dry condition if it is wet.
Northern sea-bear Among the sea-bears, the northern sea-bear (Callorhinus ursinus) is the most frequent type. its males gain lengths of 2 m and become heavy until 350 kg. The females weigh only approximately 200-250 kg with a length of 1,50 m.
Spread Two continuances are on the Pribilof-Inseln on the one hand and the commander-islands on the other hand. they spend the winter along North America's West coast as well as. on the islands along the East-Asian coast.
Cast of the hatcheries Is sea-bears very much place-scatters and comes back again at its traditional coasts in every spring in order to bear there the boys and, to carry out new combinations. The drama of the return of the fur-seals happens in the same manner every year: Soon, the first male scouts appear after the melt of the snow at the coasts and appraise the old, known places. After few days, they vanished again in order to return after short time however. Now, it is no more only few singles-animals but hundred of adult males, who now secure itself a stand of 4-5 cubic meters. These places leave the bulls of now voluntarily at no more and defend it under vehement mouthful against each other male animal. Even considerably bleeding wounds don't induce it to the task the once erfochtenen place.
Against middle of June, the females finally arrive at the summer-places. The bulls also now don't leave its with difficulty secured places, lies in continuous bloody dispute with its person in front, however, that is natural nearer for the females. The bulls, who could claim its stands directly at the water, lure the females from the water with virtually tender sounds and immediately try to block them the way back. Now, the bulls finish advertising behavior it and drag the females to the stand with force in order to immediately devote themselves to the next female. Meanwhile, the backer tries to obtain the female "carried" off straight by the person in front for his part and so forth.
Finally, however, the cows make a fuss no more but pushes on it even, from which water to reach, since the birth of its boys is imminent directly. So, harem-families of one each don't refine among 5 year old bulls with 5-15 females, with what the number of the females constantly decreases with the increasing distance of the water. Disciple and very old bulls camp away from the actual reproductive-colonies.
Reproduction Beginning of June (northern sea-bear) as well as. About the November / December (southern sea-bear) around, therefore often few days after its arrival, the females bring its young to the world, that approximately 70 cm long, already quite well develops and jet black is. The eyes open the boys directly after the birth. After approximately one week, the mother leaves the baby alone back for the first time in order to go on food-search. With the return, it very much certainly finds out it again under hundred of equally-looking boys, however.
The females are again combination-ready some days after the birth and are covered by the bulls. Now, the strict harem-structures dissolve slowly, and the males go again after over three months the first time into the water in order to look for food and, to chill the wounds. For approximately three months, the females now predominate with its boys on the islands. Finally also the descendants of swimming learned and move on the sea with its mothers, and, to come back exactly at the same place only in one year.
Nutrition Sea-bears are outstanding swimmers, who still are relatively well movable also at country like all ear-seals, however. they live in the most important thing of small-fishings like herrings, but also from Kopffüßern ("squids") and cancers.
Continuance After unsystematic, strong Bejagung because of the very precious fur, the sea-bears were already at the edge of the extermination until international agreement made the survival of most types possible at the last minute. Today, possibly is again a supervised hunt for many types, and some continuances even still increase on that occasion. Besides the human being, the sea-bears have to only fear sharks and sword-whales beside a high infant-mortality.
Southern sea-bears The southern sea-bears of the type Arctocephalus live in the seas of the southern hemisphere with 8 types and hardly differ from the northern sea-bear in its biology and in the behavior. Only because of the wholeness, some types are called here: 1. South American sea-bear, A. australis, at South America's east and West coast; - 2. Galápagos-Seebär, A. galapagoensis, on the Galápagos-Inseln; - 3. Guadeloupe-Seebär, A. townsendi, at North America's West coast; - 4. New Zealand-sea-bear, A. forsteri, at the coasts of New Zealand and the coast Südaustraliens; - 5. South African sea-bear, A. pusillus, that occurs at South Africa's western and southern coasts; a subtype, the Australian sea-bear, A. p. doriferus, lives at Australia's South-coast.
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