![Picture](/uploads/4/2/8/6/42862057/7960689.jpg?495)
New Zealand Sea Lion
Phocarctos hookeri is its scientific name. It's also known as the Hooker's sea lion.
Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ortariidae
Genus: Phocarctor
species: hookeri
Morphology:
Symmetry: Bilateral
Structure: This particular species has a blunt nose and also has short short whiskers compared to other species. Males are brown to black in color and females are lighter in color. This structural characteristic makes a distinct difference between New Zealand sea lion males and females. Females are usually between 5 feet to 6.5 feet in length and weigh from 220 lbs to over 350 lbs. Males are usually between 8 to 12 feet in length and weigh from 550 lbs to almost 900 lbs.
Biology:
Seals dive hundreds of feet deep into the water and use oxygen taken in from above water to breathe. New Zealand sea lions are able to do this due to their ability to store large amounts of oxygen in their blood. This species also has this ability because of their low heart rate. Maintaining a low heart rate makes this particular sea lion able to conserve the oxygen it has, and not overuse it.
Phocarctos hookeri is its scientific name. It's also known as the Hooker's sea lion.
Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ortariidae
Genus: Phocarctor
species: hookeri
Morphology:
Symmetry: Bilateral
Structure: This particular species has a blunt nose and also has short short whiskers compared to other species. Males are brown to black in color and females are lighter in color. This structural characteristic makes a distinct difference between New Zealand sea lion males and females. Females are usually between 5 feet to 6.5 feet in length and weigh from 220 lbs to over 350 lbs. Males are usually between 8 to 12 feet in length and weigh from 550 lbs to almost 900 lbs.
Biology:
Seals dive hundreds of feet deep into the water and use oxygen taken in from above water to breathe. New Zealand sea lions are able to do this due to their ability to store large amounts of oxygen in their blood. This species also has this ability because of their low heart rate. Maintaining a low heart rate makes this particular sea lion able to conserve the oxygen it has, and not overuse it.
![Picture](/uploads/4/2/8/6/42862057/1199932.png?250)
Map:
This particular species can be found on New Zealand's subantarctic Auckland and Campbell Islands. They also have been found around the coast of New Zealand's South and Stewart Islands. The New Zealand sea lion has not been found in any other country, giving it the name "New Zealand sea lion".
This particular species can be found on New Zealand's subantarctic Auckland and Campbell Islands. They also have been found around the coast of New Zealand's South and Stewart Islands. The New Zealand sea lion has not been found in any other country, giving it the name "New Zealand sea lion".
Importance:
New Zealand sea lions do not have a large affect on the majority of humans, however, these sea lions can affect certain squid fisherman. Squid fisherman catch these sea lions accidentally while fishing for squid. While their intentions are not bad, there is a limit on how many sea lions they can catch. Once these fisherman catch a certain amount of sea lions, they are forced to close their operation for the remainder of the year.
New Zealand sea lions also have a symbiotic relationship with the red-billed gull. This bird will perch on the back of New Zealand seal lions picking the blowflies and other insects from the lion’s back and head.
New Zealand sea lions do not have a large affect on the majority of humans, however, these sea lions can affect certain squid fisherman. Squid fisherman catch these sea lions accidentally while fishing for squid. While their intentions are not bad, there is a limit on how many sea lions they can catch. Once these fisherman catch a certain amount of sea lions, they are forced to close their operation for the remainder of the year.
New Zealand sea lions also have a symbiotic relationship with the red-billed gull. This bird will perch on the back of New Zealand seal lions picking the blowflies and other insects from the lion’s back and head.