Southern Sea Lion Otaria byronia

The Southern Sea Lion is found throughout the South American coastal region.The blackish pups become dark brown with a lighter chest as they mature. The adult males have a massive neck and chest and a characteristic upturned snout. Males grow up to almost 3m long and weigh up to 300kg and females up to 2m and up to 150kg in weight.

Southern sea lions’ main foods are octopus, squid, crustaceans and small fish, although they have been known to hunt penguins. Every year large breeding and nursing colonies (rookeries) are formed with each male having a harem of approx. 10 females.

Southern sea lion colony. See larger image. (Use your back button to return here.)

The Southern Sea Lion has been a victim of the fur trade in the past, which caused a significant decline in numbers of individuals and in their range. Today, although it is illegal to kill sea lions in Argentina, numbers are still declining due to conflict and persecution by fisherman who will shoot sea lions that enter their fisheries. Also drowning in fishing nets is a worrying threat. The Southern Sea Lion is classified as Lower Risk by IUCN. (See IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for more information on the classification of the Southern Sea Lion.)

Southern sea lion colony on the beach at Patagonia.

Help Protect the Southern Sea Lion

Southern Sea Lions are known to live and breed in the World Land Trust project area in Patagonia. To help protect their habitat, please support the Patagonia Restoration Fund.

More Information on Patagonian Wildlife

Read more about the WLT reserve in Patagonia in our projects update page, and the WLT press release on sea lion colonies on the reserve.