Physical characteristics of the California Sea Lion

Even though this is not a California Sea Lion, you get the connection of sorts:

Physical characteristics of the California Sea Lion:

Ø Males attain lengths of up to 8 feet and weights of up to 800 pounds, and at maturity, the males are much larger than the females, which get up to about 6 feet and 250 pounds

Ø The sea lions have fusiform bodies that are sleek and streamlined.

Ø Their coloration varies considerably. Generally, adult males are chocolate brown, while females and young males are tan, and pups are dark chocolate.

Ø However, when wet, most sea lions appear dark brown to black.

Ø The foreflippers are like the forelimbls of land mammals, but modified for swimming. The arm bones are shortened, and the flippers are lengthened by cartilaginous extensions of the tips of the finger bones. There are no claws nor hair on the foreflippers.

Ø The sea lions use the foreflippers in an up and down motion (like oars) to propel themselves through the water.

Ø The hindflippers are extended while swimming and the sea lions use them for “steering.” On land, they can be rotated under their body and thus, the sea lion can literally walk on all fours.

Ø The sea lion has easily visible external ear flaps and large eyes. There are about 40 long whiskers (vibrissae) which are used for touch.

Ø They have 34-38 teeth, with 4 large canine teeth. The teeth are designed for grabbing and tearing the food, not for chewing.

Ø When relaxed, the nostrils are closed. A sea lion voluntarily opens its nostrils by contracting the cheek pad muscles.

Ø Adult males have a “raised” forehead, called a sagittal crest. Females have a lower, smoother forehead.

Ø The tail is small and flattened, positioned between the hind flippers.

Ø A sea lion’s coat contains guard hairs with shorter fine underhairs. Each guard hair is associated with several underhairs. A thin film of oil is secreted by glands under the coat which leads to the coat being “waterproofed.”