Zagreb Zoo

Names of our animals: Zagi, Edith, Kan, Abi

Classification
Class: mammals (Mammalia)
Order: carnivores (Carnivora)
Family: sea lions (Otariidae)

Description
Body length: females up to 200 cm, male sup to 240 cm; weight: females up to 110 kg, males up to 390 kg. Males, when they reach sexual maturity, get the characteristic growth on top of their head, very broad neck and chest.

Geographic range
West shores of North America.

Habitat
Coastal waters.

Diet
In the wild: various sea animals, mostly fish and squid.
In captivity: fish and squid.

Reproduction
After females give birth on the sandy beaches, males take territories and sometimes fight amongst themselves. One male can gather up to 16 females in his occupied territory. After mating the gestation period lasts about 11 months. When they are born, the young have open eyes and can communicate with their mom by vocalization. They feed on mom's milk for 6 -12 months, but they learn to swim and hunt already at 2 months old. The young grow very fast because the milk of California sea lion is very rich in fat.

Behaviour
The social structure of California sea lions is unstable when not in mating season. The females gather in the southern waters, while males and younger individuals leave for northern waters. They always keep close to shore and do not swim farther than ten kilometres from it. They sometimes hunt for food in groups or even in cooperation with dolphins or sharks, attacking larger schools of fish together. During mating season they spend most of their time on shore.

Predators
Orcas (killer whale) and sharks (especially the great white shark).

Life span
In the wild up to 17 years.
In captivity up to 30 years.

Conservation Status
Not an endangered species. Protection measures have ensured stability and growth of its population. Unfortunately, the subspecies that lived in coastal waters of Japan has been extinct.
IUCN category: LR/lc (least concern).

Interesting facts
► California sea lions are very intelligent animals that learn new skills quickly, so that even the US navy uses them.
► Of all mammals, only the milk of California sea lions does not contain lactose.

Links
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Adopted by
     OŠ Cvjetno naselje, 6.b razred (2009/2010)
     Lara Herceg
     Niko Spevec
     Karmen Šali
     Monika Šmalcelj
     Toni Vukman Kordej
     Tomislav Horvat