Also known as maned seals, males are approximately three times the size of females.

Statistics
Males (bulls): 2.6m, 300kg, Females (cows): 2m, 150kg.

Physical description
South American sea lion pups are black, but they develop a dark brown coat as they mature, which is a lighter brown on their chests. Males have a massive neck and chest, and a characteristic upturned snout.

Distribution
These sea lions inhabit the coasts and offshore islands of South America.

Diet
South American fur seals feed on bottom-dwelling species, such as squid, fish and crustaceans. They will also hunt penguins, and tend to forage in shallow water less than 300m deep.

Behaviour
Males arrive at the rookeries (breeding sites) in December to claim their territories. A typical harem contains 3-8 females.

They are hunted by large sharks, killer whales and leopard seals.

Reproduction
For 6-12 months, the mother goes through a cycle of foraging at sea for three days, and then nursing her pup on shore for two days. After about 3-4 weeks, the pups will enter the water, and by the time they are two months old, they are very capable swimmers.

Conservation status
Although no commercial hunting of South American sea lions occurs nowadays, numbers were heavily depleted during the 19th and early 20th Century. The population is estimated to be 230,000 individuals.

They conflict with and are persecuted by fisherman, who will shoot those that enter their fisheries. Entanglement in fishing nets is also a high cause of death.