Galapagos Sea Lion (Zalophus wollebaeki)
They are found in the Galapagos Islands and Isla de la Plata. They are very large, both genders have very thick necks but males are also thick in the chest and shoulder areas. Females are more slender and longer than males are. Males have a crest that is on top of their heads. A characteristic that tells this species apart from others is their long and pointy nose. They feed on a variety of different fish. The males are always more competitive with each other during the mating season. They each breed with five to twenty females. The mating season goes on from May till January, which is much longer, compared to other species of sea lions out there.
New Zealand Sea Lion (Phocarctos hookeri)
The males are about nine feet long and the females are close to seven feet long. They are mainly found around South Island and Auckland Islands. Their breeding season takes place from November until January.
The Australian Sea Lion has a narrow niche. They tend to stay only around the coastal waters of South and West Australia. They can also breed at any time of the year.
3. In the past the Australian Sea Lion was hunted for its fur and oil by the Europeans. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was almost hunted to extinction. The populations are still low today. They are vulnerable to by catch, they can be entangled then eventually drown in gillnets. Smaller Sea lions have been trapped and drowned in pots used to catch rock lobster.
If the Australian Sea Lion became extinct their food source may grow to very large numbers in their habitat. Their predators, mostly sharks would have to consume on other prey.
The zoo aquarium association and the Taronga conservation society of Australia are both protecting the Australian sea lion existence.
