South American Sea Lion

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = South American Sea Lion | image = Lobo-001.jpg | image_width = 240px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Mammalia | ordo = Carnivora | subordo = Pinnipedia | familia = Otariidae | subfamilia = Otariinae | genus = Otaria | genus_authority = Péron, 1816 | species = O. flavescens | binomial = Otaria flavescens | binomial_authority = (Shaw, 1800) }}

The South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens, previously Otaria bryonia) is a sea lion found on the Chilean, Peruvian, Uruguayan and Argentine coasts. They are perhaps the archetypal sea lion in appearance - they have a very large head with an upturned snout. Both males and females are orange-coloured. The manes on males are lighter than females, and female fur on the head and neck is lighter than that of males.

The South American Sea Lion's size and weight can vary quite a lot, ranging from 80 to 250 pounds. Adult males have an average length of 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) and an average weight of about 300 kg(660 lb). Adult females have an average length of 1.8–2 m (6–7 ft) and usually weigh about half the weight of the males, around 150 kg (330 lb).

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References

{{ cite book

| title = National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World
| author = Randall R. Reeves, Brent S. Stewart, Phillip J. Clapham and James A. Powell
| publisher = Alfred A. Knopf, Inc
| year = 2002
| id = ISBN 0375411410
}}