Southern sea lion (Otaria flavescens)

Southern sea lions are also known as maned seals. Males are approximately three times the size of females. Although no commercial hunting of South American sea lions occurs nowadays, numbers were heavily depleted during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

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  1. Patagonian sea lion colony

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About the Southern sea lion

The South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens, formerly Otaria byronia), also called the Southern Sea Lion and the Patagonian Sea Lion, is a sea lion found on the Chilean, Peruvian, Uruguayan and Argentine coasts. Its scientific name was subject to controversy, with some taxonomists referring to it as Otaria flavescens and other referring to it as Otaria byronia. The former eventually won out. Locally, it is known by several names though the most common ones are "lobo marino" (sea wolf) and "león marino" (sea lion).

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Scientific Classification

Class: Mammal (Mammalia)

Order: Carnivora

Family: Eared seal (Otariidae)

Genus: Otaria

Species: South American Sea Lion (flavescens)

Common Names

  • Maned seal
  • Patagonian sea lion
  • South American sea lion

Where can I see them?

They can be found in the following habitats:

Conservation Status

The Southern sea lion is Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)

  1. EX - Extinct
  2. EW
  3. CR - Threatened
  4. EN - Threatened
  5. VU - Threatened
  6. NT
  7. LC - Least concern

Population trend: Stable

Year assessed: 2008

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