Short description of some of the Pinnipeds - seals and sea lions - that can be seen around San Diego are given below.

 

Seal

There are 33 species of seals and they are classified as Pinnipeds - "webbed feet" - refering to their flippers. Locally there are two species of "true" seals.

Pacific Harbour Seal - These weight up to around 300 lbs and have no external ear flaps. When moving on land they must move along by flopping on their bellies. They have spotted coats in a variety of shades from silver-gray to black or dark brown. They favor near coastal waters and you can often see them lying around on the beaches.

The females give birth each year in March or April - seals can live to 30 years of age.

Elephant Seal

Elephant Seals are "true" seals in that they do not have ear flaps. Many people are familiar with them because of their large nose. At one time they were though to be extinct because of hunting, but today they number around 200,000.

California Sea Lion

Their color ranges from chocolate brown in males to a lighter, golden brown in females. The males can weith in at around 1000 lbs, the females are much smaller at around 200 lbs. They have external ear flaps and large flippers that they use to "walk" on land. The trained "seals" in zoos and aquariums are usually California sea lions.

The sea lions are very social and known for theri intelligence. They give birth in June or July and can nurse for up to a year. They feed on squid, octopus, herring, rockfish, mackerel, and small sharks. In turn, sea lions are preyed upon by Orcas (killer whales) and great white sharks.