Scientific name:
Otariinae

Natural spread:
North America, Australia, Galapagos

two clusters of sea-lions distinguishes purely we after its outer appearance. To the first group, that shows rarer representatives altogether, is fitting the mane-seal, that Auckland-Seelöwe (Neophoca hookeri), the Australian sea-lion (Neophoca cinerea) and the Steller-Seelöwe (Eumetopias jubata). they marks all itself through its size, that can amount with the male until 3,50 m, through the often considerable size-difference between males and females, the mane of the males and their "lion-good" roar. its fur is monochrome brown and doesn't possess any sub-wool, why it is for the fur-industry without meaning. Merely the two Australian types, Auckland - and Australian sea-lion, mediates to the sea-bears relating to this. The boys possess another dense sub-wool with them. The second more known and more frequent group includes the sea-lions of the type Zalophus.

Steller-Seelöwe An especially characteristic representative of this group be it until on the well-trained mane of virtually hair-loose Steller-Seelöwe (Eumetopias jubatus) of this from the Bering-sea as far as to the coasts before California native. it is the biggest and hugest representative of the subfamily, that exceeds 2 m of body-height in condition raised on the front-limbs.

Way of life The animals live, as not all sea-lions, in harem-families, however by far as despotically as the sea-bears. As Tagtiere, they last in coast-proximity and are relatively place-scatters, d. h. they come back at the reproductive-time at the same coasts every year where they themselves also already were born. The Australian sea-lions leave these areas at all no more but are over there the whole year. they live in only small harems with 2-4 females or even only in pairs. All other sea-lion-males last harems of 5-25 females for itself or live in bachelor-stoves. The females are treated far less rough as this is usual with the sea-bears. Although also sea-lion-bulls fast with exception of the Australian sea-lion during the reproductive-time, however, they are near the water in order to cool off to time there.

Californian sea-lion To the second, more known, but externally and the Californian sea-lion (Zalophus californianus) and the Galápagos-Seelöwe (Zalophus wollebaeki) used with it belong to behavioral-wise different group. they possess a long, slim muzzle in contrast to the short Bulldogschnauze of the other sea-lions, no mane and barks dog-nicely. Also, they are less massive and nimble in its movements at country. If the first-named sea-lions resemble the sea-bears in its behavior, the Californian and the Galápagos-Seelöwe form much more relaxed associations without taut organization.

Reproduction After 342-365 days, the females bring a maroon young to the world, that learns in quiet bays with other boys of swimming.

Way of life Sea-lions live from all sorts of fishings, like Z. B. Salmon, as well as from cancers and squids. The Australian sea-lion hunts exclusively penguins. All are very deft swimmers, that plunge from high cliffs into the sea and can out-jump partially highly from the water. Californian sea-lions dive minutes-long up to 100 m of depth and up to 15.

Endangering There is not an immediate threat for sea-lions. The Californian sea-lion and the Galápagos-Seelöwe are completely protected.