California Sea Lion

Design

Sea lions use a system of echolocation to navigate while underwater and to find food. A mother will leave her newborn pup while she goes hunting. To relocate each other, they will “bark” until they find each other. The mother will then smell the pup to completely identify the pup as her own. This is a unique ability designed by God. While underwater, the sea lion can open its mouth to capture prey without swallowing water. This is possible because of special muscles that close off the nostrils, larynx, and esophagus.

Features

• The sea lion has a brownish coat with lighter coloring on its belly and sides.
• It has front flippers as well as two back flippers. These flippers are all coated with short, dark stubble.

Fun Facts

• The sea lion can be easily trained which makes it a great attraction at circuses and aquariums.
• The California sea lion has been known to “adopt” an abandoned pup.
• This species can rotate its hind flippers underneath its body to help it walk on land.
• It can sleep while floating in the water.

Created Kind Members

Northern fur seal