Eared seals with external ear flaps, long front flippers and the ability to walk on all fours. There are six living species, found from subarctic to tropical waters in both hemispheres.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?Can be
Attacks are rare, but it can be very unsafe to get within about 2.5 metres.
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?In places
Seals and sea lions are hunted for meat and blubber; California sea lions were once hunted for hides and animal feed.
At a glance
Found inOceans
HabitatCoast, Open ocean
ColoursBrown, Tan
SizeLarge
LengthUp to 2.4 m (California sea lion)
WeightUp to 390 kg (California sea lion)
LegsNone
Covered inFur
Lives incolonies
Lives for20–30 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Coasts from subarctic to tropical waters in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
- What it eats
- Fish such as sardines, and other sea creatures.
Did you know
Unlike seals it has visible ear flaps and can walk on all fours.
Sea lions can reach about 56 km/h in the water.
Often confused with
- Seal
A sea lion has visible ear flaps and can walk on all four flippers. The true seals are the earless seals.
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