Home › Mammalia › Otariidae › South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens)
SPECIES PROFILE
South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens)
Otaria
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Rocky coasts and cold seas
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Otariidae
GENUS
Otaria
📋 Description
SIZE
Males up to 2.8 m, 350 kg
COLORATION
Golden-brown; males have a heavy mane
ADAPTATIONS
Large size and blubber for cold currents
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Rocky coasts and cold seas
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America
REPRODUCTION
Single pup
DIET DETAILS
Fish, squid and crustaceans
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Fishing conflict, El Nino
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Maned bulls defend crowded harems on the rocks with constant roaring.
2
The Ballestas Islands off Peru are nicknamed the 'poor man's Galapagos' for their wildlife.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Ballestas Islands
Peninsula Valdes
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Take a boat around the Ballestas Islands; noisy colonies haul out on the rocks year-round.
