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Animals Australian Sea Lion
Australian Sea Lion
Common Name: Australian Sea Lion
Scientific Name: Neophoca cinerea
Description
The Australian Sea
Lion, Neophoca cinerea is a sexually
dimorphic species with the adult males up to twice the weight
and length of the female. Both sexes have stocky bodies, a
large head and short narrow flippers. Apart from size, the
sexes are easily identified by coat colour. The male is dark
brown with mane-like yellow areas on the neck and top of the
head. The females are silver grey to fawn on the back and
creamy coloured underneath. Pups are born with a chocolate
brown fur, which is lost after the first moulting phase.
Distribution,
Habitat and Status
This species is endemic
to Australian waters and breeds on at least 50 islands off
the coast of Western Australia and South Australia. They prefer
sandy beaches, usually in isolated bays and sheltered areas.
One such site on Kangaroo Island off South Australia has become
a popular tourist attraction.
Australian Sea Lion
numbers are relatively small compared to other seals in the
area and like most it suffered heavily during the 19th century
sealing period with many colonies being wiped out. It is protected
by Australian State and Federal government legislation and
listed as rare by the IUCN.
Food and
Feeding
Their diet is poorly known
but probably includes a variety of fish and invertebrates
such as octopus and squid. There is some suggestion that they
occasionally take penguins.
Breeding
Australian Sea Lions
form loose associations within the breeding colonies. Males
do not form harems but will guard and then mate with individual
females in turn.
Timing of the birth of pups
is not the same at each site. Young can be born anytime from
January to June after a gestation period of about 12 months.
Despite the fact that females give birth to only one young
and may not breed again for two to three years, pup mortality
is high in the first six months after birth.
Other Types of Sea Lion
 Calfornia Sea Lion
Steller Sea Lion
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