What does the Galapagos sea lion eat?

What does the Galapagos sea lion eat?

Feeding and prey Little information exists on Galapagos sea lion prey, however their diet may vary throughout the archipelago; they are known to eat sardines, myctophids (lanternfish), and squid.

What kind of prey do sea lions eat?

California sea lions feed mainly offshore in coastal areas. They eat a variety of prey—such as squid, anchovies, mackerel, rockfish, and sardines—found in upwelling areas. They also may take fish from commercial fishing gear, sport fishing lines, and fish passage facilities at dams and rivers.

How do sea lions find prey?

Sea lions often vocalize underwater and are able to easily locate sound sources. Their sensitive whiskers, called vibrissae, can rotate forward and detect the slight movements of fish swimming nearby, enabling California sea lions to find and capture prey in total darkness.

Do sea lions play with their prey?

Many times it appears that a Sea Lion is playing with its food before it consumes it. This is because they will flip it around and around before they let it slide down. They aren’t really playing with it though. Instead they are turning it into the right position for easier digestion.

How do seals find prey?

Their specially shaped whiskers can detect the disturbances left by other creatures moving through the water, even while they are moving themselves.

• If you’re a seal, finding food can be a challenge.
• When tracking underwater vibrations, the seal pulls its whiskers erect so that they are held away from it face.

Where do sea lions find their food?

Sea lions and seals are marine mammals, spending a good part of each day in the ocean to find their food. They all have flippers at the end of their limbs to help them swim. Like all marine mammals, they have a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm in the chilly ocean. And they all like to eat fish—lots of fish!

What is the special fact about Galápagos sea lions?

5) They are the largest endemic land animal in the Galapagos While there are larger animals in the Galapagos (like cows, goats, and horses), sea lions are the largest endemic land animal. These islands are 1000 kilometers (600 miles) from the mainland – that’s a long swim for a land animal.

Do orcas eat sea lions?

Orcas hunt everything from fish to walruses, seals, sea lions, penguins, squid, sea turtles, sharks, and even other kinds of whales. Depending on the season and where they are, their diet varies—some orcas eat more fishes and squid than seals and penguins.

Are seals prey or predator?

Seals are carnivorous and dive underwater to hunt for fish, crustaceans, seabirds, and other marine animals. Whales, sharks, and even other seals are the primary non-human predators of seals.

Are Galapagos sea lions aggressive?

Although Galapagos sea lions are very cute, they can be very dangerous and territorial, especially around mating season.

When did the Galapagos sea lion become endangered?

However, despite seeming common, they are actually Endangered (last assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2014). The Galápagos sea lion population declined by 60-65% from 1978 to 2001, and since then there has been no evidence of either decline or increase.