- 3
#1
- ©: Aquarium of the Pacific, R. Riggs
- Miller, our 27 year old patriarch
The group of marine mammals called pinnipeds is made up of three closely related families: Otariidae (‘eared’ seals), the family to which California sea lions belong; Phocidae (‘true’ seals); and Odobenidae (walrus). The term “pinniped” is derived from the Latin “pinna”, meaning winged, and “ped”, meaning foot, referring to the appearance of the flippers of these families.
The genus name, Zalophus is derived from the Greek prefix “za” and “lophos” for “crest”, referring to the large sagittal crest on the skull of a mature male sea lion. There are three subspecies in the genus Zalopus based on geographic location and some morphological differences: California sea lion, Zalopus californianus; Galapagos sea lion, Z.wollebaeki; and the Japanese sea lion Z. japonicus , which is presumed to be extinct.
Facts and Features
- Geographic Distribution
Eastern north Pacific from Vancouver Island, British Columbia south to Baja California, Mexico including the Gulf of California.
- Amazing Facts
The US Navy currently uses dolphins and sea lions to help protect lives and naval assets. Sea lions have excellent low light vision and underwater directional hearing capabilities which makes them adept at locating objects in challenging conditions; can maneuver in tight spaces; go onto the shore if necessary; and make repeated deep-water dives without suffering the effects of "the bends" as humans do. They are trained to detect, locate, and mark mines so human divers can deal with them appropriately before they damage or sink military or civilian ships, and to detect and mark enemy swimmers who pose a threat to people, vessels, and harbor facilities.
- At the Aquarium
Our five California sea lions are named Miller, Parker, Harpo, Milo, and Odin. At 27 years of age, Miller, who came to the Aquarium before our June 1998 opening, is the patriarch of our seals and sea lions. Harpo and Milo, our newest arrivals, found a home at the Aquarium in 2007.
