New Zealand Sea Lions (Phocarctos hookeri) are one of the least abundant sea lion species in the world. They are endemic to New Zealand and have a total population of about 12000 individuals.
These animals were loafing around on the far end of The Mole, a sea wall at Aramoana near Dunedin in New Zealand.
You can see some of the features in these pictures that make these animals sea lions, rather than seals. Sea lions are able to support themselves on land using their large front flippers, and can use these flippers to 'walk'. They also have visible ear flaps. Seals on the other hand, have small flippers, wriggle on their bellies on land, and lack visible ear flaps.
As you can see, these Sea Lions were not doing a great deal! I suspect that they may be sub-adult males just loafing about, waiting for time and opportunity to change their status!
Cheers SM
We have Hawaiian monk seals as you know. Thank you for teaching us how to differentiate them from sea lions! I never knew that! Thank you Stewart. Aloha
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteWonderful critters - who clearly have a penchant for sky-gazing! YAM xx
Yearning for positivity. So inspirational
ReplyDeletePinnipeds are quite wonderful and if left alone by humans grace the coasts with dignity and beauty. Why anyone ever thought they would be better off spinning a plate in a circus is beyond imagination. “Profit,” did I hear someone say? Ah, that’s it!
ReplyDeleteAwwww...I just want to reach out and pet them...great pictures Stewart..
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of these sea lions. I like everything at the sea. Greets Caroline
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