Animal Profile IUCN: LC

New Zealand sea lion

Phocarctos hookeri

Carnivora 2022-12-18 15:00:04 683 views

Scientific Name Phocarctos hookeri

Length 2-3.5m

Weight 230-410kg

Lifespan No verification information

IUCN Status LC

Table of Contents

The scientific name of New Zealand sea lion is Phocarctos hookeri, also known as Hooker's sea lion. It feeds on small fish such as octopus and flounder, and also eats crabs and penguins. It likes to live in groups. It gives birth in late December or early January. The birthing process is short, about 10 minutes, and the lactation period is about 1 year. It will mate on the shore soon after giving birth, with one male and multiple males, and one male and about 12 females form a reproductive group. It does not migrate over a large area. It is estimated that there are 10,000 to 50,000.

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Profile Details

Key characteristics, appearance, and habitat information.

Traits & Behavior

It is a local species and the largest sea lion in the area.

Appearance

The front quarter of the body is very strong. The male skull is 346mm long, the width between the temporal and mastoid processes is 181mm, and the female skull is 126mm long. The difference from the Australian sea lion is that the bulla extends backwards, the palatine bone is deeply concave, and the zygomatic postorbital process is very obvious, which is almost absent in the Australian sea lion. The young are covered with dark brown thick fur, the adult female is light yellow to milky gray, and the male is light dark brown with a well-developed black mane.

Distribution & Habitat

It is distributed in the subantarctic islands of New Zealand, breeding in the Auckland Islands, Enderberma and Snares Islands between 48° and 53° south latitude, as far south as Campbell Island, and occasionally seen on Maquarie Island.

Visual guide